For the center of the hipster universe, the Brooklyn Chamber's recommendations may come as a surprise.

According to Erik Engquist of Crain's New York, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has just released a new study claiming that the borough is missing out on $6 billion of retail opportunities.
"Business leaders in Brooklyn have long suspected that local shoppers were spending lots of their dollars elsewhere. Now they have numbers that not only prove it, but reveal the most gaping holes in the borough's retail landscape," writes Engquist.
Despite the fact that only 44 percent of Brooklynites own a car, the Chamber apparently laments the dearth of auto parts and repair shops, dealerships, and gas stations, claiming that the missed retail opportunities amount to $2.6 billion for dealerships and $1.3 billion for gas stations.
Chamber President and CEO Carlo Scissura also points to the food deserts that exist in some of the borough's neighborhoods as well as the lack of general merchandise stores. He wants the city to do more to encourage big-box retailers to move in by rezoning for larger establishments. Referring to Target, he said, "I'd love to see another five of them open up across Brooklyn."
Although the Chamber has capitalized on the appeal of Brooklyn's independent spirit with it's "Made in Brooklyn" certification program, Engquist's report on the study indicates that the Chamber believes there is an unmet demand for the conveniences of suburban-style chain retailers. "Some of Brooklyn's lost sales stem not from a dearth of retail but from more pleasant and lower-priced stores and supermarkets in the suburbs," writes Engquist.
FULL STORY: Brooklyn retailers are missing out on $6 billion worth of sales

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie