Last year, Randy Peers moved the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce from the 27th floor of an office tower in Downtown Brooklyn, where it had been located f

Pleading Return to Office Isn’t Getting Traction — But Mixing Where New Yorkers Live and Work Just Might

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2022-06-23 01:00:06

Last year, Randy Peers moved the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce from the 27th floor of an office tower in Downtown Brooklyn, where it had been located for 100 years, to the sprawling Industry City complex on the Sunset Park waterfront.

He knew that in the post-COVID world, a traditional office high up in a skyscraper wouldn’t help him attract the talent he needed to make the Chamber thrive. But Industry City offered an electric mix of small manufacturers, creative companies, the Brooklyn Nets’ practice gym, and a wide variety of unique retailers, food purveyors and cultural outlets.

“Seven thousand people come to work at Industry City,” he said. “I wanted some place that was unique and different and something interesting is always happening here and that’s a draw especially for younger people.”

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Randy Peers has worked to increase office and small business space in places like Industry City, June 22, 2022.