![\"Keynote](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/260603_bkforum26-thompson-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Keynote speakers Alvin Schein, partner at Adler & Stachenfeld LLP, left; Justin Elghanayan, principal and president of Rockrose, center; and Tyng Patka, chair of Adler & Stachenfeld LLP, right. Photo: Julie Thompson\/Brooklyn Eagle<\/p>\nKatz said he recalled the enormous amount of supply of rental units coming into Downtown Brooklyn in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s been incredible to see is how quickly it\u2019s been absorbed,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen an incredibly strong spring in Downtown Brooklyn \u2014 a 31% increase in absorption over a year \u2014 so a lot of that supply is being gobbled up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marks told the Brooklyn Eagle that according to its first quarter Brooklyn market report, the borough recorded more than $2.2 billion in investment sales volume across 324 transactions in the first quarter alone, outpacing Brooklyn\u2019s 10-year quarterly average.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTo put that into perspective, the entire Brooklyn investment sales market totaled just over $1 billion for all of 2010,\u201d Marks said. \u201cBrooklyn continues to prove itself as one of the most desirable places to invest, develop, live, work and play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zachary Bernstein, partner at Fried Frank, moderated a panel on the neighborhoods and industries driving the next wave of growth in Brooklyn. Speakers included Downtown Brooklyn Partnership President Regina Myer, Global Holdings Management Group Leasing Director Alexander Radmin, and Two Trees Management Commercial Leasing Managing Director Alyssa Zahler.<\/p>\n
Myer explained that while Downtown Brooklyn has emerged as an incredible mixed-use neighborhood, just 20 years ago, it was known as a shopping district defined by Fulton Street, and a civic center defined by Borough Hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the reasons for this transformation is because our transit system is like nowhere else,\u201d Myer said. \u201cYou can get anywhere from Downtown and that really works for a lot of people. You can live in Downtown Brooklyn and be connected to not just the brownstone neighborhoods but also the waterfront. These are the connections that I think people really feel, thus continuing to view Brooklyn as a really attractive place to live.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zahler recalled when Two Trees invested in DUMBO around 40 years ago. \u201cPeople thought we were crazy,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were ultimately able to acquire buildings down there,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s rather difficult to predict what the next Brooklyn hotspot will be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Radmin said he has eyes on Gowanus as it has excellent transit access. \u201cYou are surrounded by some of the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have 5,000 feet on the canal,\u201d he added. \u201cWe have spoken with high-end restaurateurs, those who can provide event space, and a bunch of smaller retailers \u2014 something that\u2019s really going to engage the community. We\u2019re very excited.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n