Red Hook Houses
The Red Hook Houses are two connected public housing complexes located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York City. Managed by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), they comprise the largest housing development in Brooklyn.[1]
Red Hook Houses
The Red Hook Houses are composed of Red Hook East and Red Hook West. Red Hook East is composed of 16 residential buildings and three non-residential buildings with 1,411 total units and roughly 3,000 residents. Red Hook West is composed of 14 residential buildings and one non-residential building with 1,480 total units and roughly 3,300 residents. The buildings are two and six stories tall.[2]
History[edit]
Development[edit]
Land for the Red Hook Houses was acquired by condemnation starting in May 1938.[3][4] The Red Hook Houses were designed by architect Alfred Easton Poor with landscaping by Charles N. Lowrie. Construction was completed on the 40-acre, $13 million project on November 20, 1939.[2][5][6] Upon completion, the development was heralded as a modern living residence with fireproofing; modern kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities; vermin-proof; and open to light.[7]
In 1940, Marion Greenwood was commissioned by the Federal Art Project to paint frescoes for the Red Hook Houses. The 325-square-foot (30.2 m2) piece, located in the lobby, was titled Blueprint for Living and was intended to express optimism for a more harmonious future for residents.[8][9] Eleanor Roosevelt toured the development, seeing Greenwood at work, and gave a speech entitled “Restoring Community Life Through Planned Housing Development.”[10][9]
20th century[edit]
On December 17, 1992, P.S. 15 principal Patrick Daly was killed when he walked into the crossfire looking for a student who left the school after a fight at the Red Hook Houses.[11] The residents of the houses and school were shocked by the principal's death, and a 17-year-old suspect was later arrested and charged with killing Daly.[12] After the death, undercover police officers began patrolling the development to remove drugs and violence from the area.[13]
In 1998, the New York City Police Department led a five-month investigation of drug sales at the Red Hook Houses which ended in the arrest of 400 suspects, with 95 percent being residents of the houses.[14]