Red Hook, Brooklyn – street scenes, graffiti and waterfront views

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Inaccessible and run down enough to ward off all but the most hardy hipsters and developers, Red Hook is situated in the south-western corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Hit hard by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Red Hook hosts a large and impoverished housing project and is somewhat isolated because of its poor transportation links, with the nearest subway located a considerable distance away [].

Hopes to introduce a historic street car service to the area recently failed, with the three vintage trolley cars being removed from the waterfront in February 2014, although there are several buses and ferries serving the area. []

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

With its heyday of the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s far behind it, much of the area remains unloved and in a poor state.

However, it has recovered considerably from its post-industrial 1990s nadir, when  LIFE magazine declared it to be one of the worst neighbourhoods in the United States and the ‘crack capital of America.’  []

A recent influx of artists and new businesses has sparked some recovery for Red Hook, but I reckon it’ll be a while before Starbucks start opening up on every street corner (not that I want to see that anyway).

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Here’s some photos from a visit in December, 2103 (you can also see photos from my first visit in December 2008 here).

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Photos of street scenes, docks and graffiti of Red Hook, Brooklyn, USA

Read more about the area’s history – and see a photo feature from 2008 – here.

One Comment on “Red Hook, Brooklyn – street scenes, graffiti and waterfront views”

  1. My childhood home Red Hook Brooklyn in the 1950s and early 60s. Decades later i had recurring dreams of living there again, even if it was as rundown as it was in the 1950s. How sad to find out that could not afford the rent. My home at 136 Dikeman St. still looks exactly the same on the outside, including the wrought iron fencing around the stoop and the area for trash cans; the same black wrought iron fence i had stuck my head through and couldn’t get it back out ! A lady who lived on my block brought out some butter to put on my ears to slide my head back out again. Oh how embarrassing that was.

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