I don't think there is any unique factor that would make the Book Tower unusually expensive to renovate. However, it is a big building, which would make it a big project, and the upper floors probably only have a future as residential space.
I was in the building semi-regularly up until it closed, and my guess is that above the first couple of floors there is basically nothing usable but the exterior walls, elevator cores, and subflooring. The building wasn't in great repair, but more importantly everything in it was really old and unsuited to residential use. It wasn't all that well-suited to office use.
I hope that if the Broderick and Stott buildings are successful, someone will try to redo the Book. I think a lot of people would find living in the tower attractive, but I doubt it can be financed until there more of a track record with that kind of project downtown.
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