ASSESSING COMMERCIAL NEEDS IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN

Pratt Area Community Council, also known as IMPACCT Brooklyn, is a community development organization committed to promoting affordable housing, tenants’ rights, and economic renewal in Central Brooklyn. IMPACCT Brooklyn enlisted a Capstone team to provide recommendations on the best prospective tenant fit for its mixed-use properties in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, using data informed by community outreach. The team conducted an environmental scan of local, state, and federal small business policies, leasing policy changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, existing local small business types, and opportunities and threats for small businesses in Central Brooklyn. The team then interviewed community stakeholders to obtain their insights into which small business types are best suited to the needs and interests of the community. The project culminated with a set of recommendations for tenant fit that align with the identified needs and opportunities in the study areas.