What was before NYCHA Red Hook Housing, mid-1930s
New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Red Hook Houses, like many other Red Hook buildings, were built on land that was either originally underwater, or was a tidal marsh. New York City began clearing the land in the 1930s. Some of the land, bordered by Dwight, Clinton, West 9th and Lorraine Streets, that makes up the 33.34-acre complex was vacant, but a good portion of it had row-houses and shacks.
Twenty-seven, 2 and 6-stories high buildings with 2,528 apartments for over 5,600 residents were completed on November 20, 1939. Much of the material to build the houses reportedly was transported to the site via the Hamilton Avenue Ferry.
Laguardia Community College's LaGuardia & Wagner Archives contain The New York City Housing Authority photos of the work. (The image descriptions are those of the archive).
- Aerial View of Brooklyn, NY, With Red Hook in the Foreground. C.1935. Link
Photo ID Number: 02.015.0160 - The Corner of Verona and Dwight Streets in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Near the Future Site of Red Hook Houses. Sept. 11, 1935. Link
Photo ID Number: 02.015.0173 - This Is the Future Site of Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn, ca. 1935. Link
Photo ID Number: 02.015.15585 - Future Site of Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn, NY. ca. 1935. Link Photo ID Number: 02.015.15584
- Mill Street from Clinton Street Looking West, Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. September 18, 1935. This Is The Future Site Of Red Hook Houses. Link Photo ID Number:02.015.15577
- Men Demolishing a Building at Bush and Hicks Streets in Red Hook, Brooklyn, On the Site of the Future Red Hook Houses. C. 1930s. Link
- 25 Mill Street, Brooklyn, NY, Circa 1930s. This Is The Future Site Of Red Hook Houses. Link
- Family at Dinner Table, 63 Centre Street, Brooklyn, NY. C. 1930's. This Is The Future Site Of Red Hook Houses. Link
- Columbia Street From Visitation Place, Looking North, In Red Hook, Brooklyn, Would Be Cleared For The Building Of Red Hook Houses, December 1, 1937. Link
- 73-79 West 9th Street, In Red Hook, Brooklyn, Would Be Cleared For The Building Of Red Hook Houses, December 1, 1937. Link
- Columbia Street from the Corner of Lorraine Street, Apparently Across the Street from the Newly Built Red Hook Houses, Circa October 1939 Link
- A Wooden House Built In The Backyard Of Other Buildings, Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. May 20, 1938. This Area Was Razed To Build Red Hook Houses. Link
- Wood Frame House In The Rear Yard Of A House At 81 Lorraine Street In Red Hook, Brooklyn, Site Of The Future Red Hook Houses.. May 20, 1938. Link
- Boarded-Up Building in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY, May 20, 1938 Link
- Construction of Red Hook Houses at Centre And Henry Streets In Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. April 17, 1939. Link
- A Glimpse of Old Red Hook with Cobblestone Streets, Sullivan Street, November 19, 1951. The Clapboard House on the Corner Appears To Pre-Date the Civil War. These Buildings Were Razed To Build Red Hook Ii Houses. Completed May 31, 1955, The 5.63-Acre Site Is Bordered By Red Hook Park, Richards, Dwight And Wolcott Streets. Link Photo ID Number:02.005.273