At the soon-to-open BAM Fisher Building, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership yesterday released two reports and announced a strategic plan for Downtown Brooklyn. According to the reports, downtown has already made big strides over the last decade. Between 2003 and 2010, employment grew 18.3 percent as median income rose by 40 percent and in 2010 the “greater downtown Brooklyn” area accounted for 17 percent of all private sector jobs in Brooklyn; much of that growth came in health care and education. New housing has added 15,000 residents. Here’s the vision going forward: Improve connectivity and cohesion within downtown, strengthen and diversify the business community, develop a distinct and unified sense of place downtown, encourage an engaged and active civic community, support Brooklyn’s cultural assets, and encourage economic development that is rational and inclusive. Specifics include enhancing the pedestrian experience with parks, plazas, and streetscape projects and creating a “college town” area for student events. Sounds good to us.
We Got Class [NY Post]
Partnership Video Celebrating Downtown Brooklyn [YouTube]
Downtown Brooklyn Hailed for Growth [Atlantic Yards Report]
DiNapoli Hails Downtown Brooklyn’s Economic Rebirth [Patch]
Economic Growth in NY’s Brooklyn Holds Lessons for Cities [Reuters]
Downtown Brooklyn has been Exploding with Job Growth [Daily News]
Growth in Downtown Brooklyn Strong Despite Weak Citywide Growth [NY1]
Photo by Downtown Brooklyn Partnership


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. “much of that growth came in health care and education”

    yes, lets plan for more big government.

    “Connectivity, Diversification, Community, Culture, and Opportunity”

    this sounds awfully fluffy. is this planning really for business and jobs, or just politicians?

  2. Small retail businesses have largely been ignored through Bloomberg’s administration, in favor of incentives for corporate chains to move in. The high cost of doing business in this city hits small businesses the hardest. Marty’s Shop Brooklyn program was WEAK. I see nothing but big dollars rolling into downtown, while small businesses suffer (and leave).

  3. Small retail businesses have largely been ignored through Bloomberg’s administration, in favor of incentives for corporate chains to move in. The high cost of doing business in this city hits small businesses the hardest. Marty’s Shop Brooklyn program was WEAK. I see nothing but big dollars rolling into downtown, while small businesses suffer (and leave).

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