Red Hook’s rich history dates back to the Revolutionary War, but has experienced a new appreciation as of late. The NYC Ferry improved access in recent years, but there is still no direct subway and most people get around by car and bike. As such, there is something of a small-town atmosphere owing to its isolation from Manhattan, but it offers a vibrant scene all its own between artists’ lofts and galleries, parks, food trucks, historic bars and restaurants, and the IKEA that revitalized the neighborhood.
Red Hook's rise in popularity was briefly marred by the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, but measures are in place to ensure that this doesn’t happen to the low-lying neighborhood again. Mayor Bloomberg recommended the idea for the Red Hook Coastal Resiliency (RHCR) Project in 2013, and Mayor de Blasio commissioned it in 2015, when funding was included in the OneNYC plan. The plan concentrates on two low-lying parts of Red Hook (the Atlantic Basin and Beard Street), and semi-permanent measures are in place at the Atlantic Basin. Permanent measures are expected to include flood walls, sea gates, and street raisings. A community meeting about the project took place on November 1, at which time it was revealed that construction is expected to begin in early 2025 with completion estimated for 2028.
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In the meantime, new buildings are being designed with new resiliency standards and codes in place. Developers are eager to make the most of Red Hook’s vistas of the Manhattan skyline and full frontal view of the Statue of Liberty; and, with hybrid work environments still going strong, buyers can get more bang for their buck on approachably priced apartments with spacious floor plates and beautiful views. New high-rises aren’t taking shape here, but that is not to say there is no new development. On the contrary – we take a look at new and forthcoming projects below.
Now Selling
3 stories | 22 units
5 available units from $1,150,000
5 available units from $1,150,000
The Conover (Douglas Elliman)
The design of The Conover pays tribute to Red Hook’s history with a three-story height, concrete and pinewood facade, oversized windows, and exposed concrete ceilings. But the high-end kitchen appliances, spa-like baths, in-unit laundry, and private outdoor space were designed with today’s buyers in mind. It took shape near such local mainstays as Red Hook Tavern, Sunny’s Bar, Pioneer Works, Hometown BBQ, and Steve’s Key Lime Pie.
The Conover, #GARDENA (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
4 stories | 3 units
2 available units from $2,450,000
2 available units from $2,450,000
96 King Street (Serhant LLC)
As 96 King Street shows, the Brooklyn boutique condo boom has made its way to Red Hook. The classic red brick facade, arched windows, and charming mansard roof pay respectful tribute to prewar architecture, and the design is underpinned by state-of-the-art infrastructure that includes a high-efficiency boiler and European ERV for continuous fresh, filtered air. All three full-floor units have open-concept layouts, kitchens with chef-caliber appliances and storage, Nest thermostats, in-unit laundry, and private outdoor space. Dedicated parking and bike storage make it easier to get around.
96 King Street, #1 (Serhant LLC)
6 stories | 70 units
6 available units from $1,900,000
6 available units from $1,900,000
Red Hook Lofts (Douglas Elliman)
160 Imlay Street dates back to 1913, when it was erected at a New York Dock & Co. building; it was the first reinforced steel and concrete building in the United States. 110 years later, under the context-sensitive eye of Morris Adjmi Architects, three floors were added and it became Red Hook’s largest condo offering. Historic details were carefully preserved inside and out, and modern amenities include outdoor space, on-site parking, and a wellness suite with fitness center, sauna, and steam rooms.
The Red Hook Lofts, #5D2 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
3 stories | 2 units
1 available unit for $2,295,000
1 available unit for $2,295,000
303 Van Brunt Street (Compass)
Red Hook is dotted with prewar townhouses, and 303 Van Brunt Street has joined their ranks. One unit has direct garden access, another has a private terrace, and all interiors have spacious floor plans, meticulously designed finishes, Fisher & Paykel appliances in the kitchens, generous storage space, and in-unit laundry.
303 Van Brunt Street, #1 (Compass)
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Coming Soon and Commercial
6 stories | 10 units
Completion estimated for 2025
Completion estimated for 2025
Rendering of 381 Van Brunt Street (RedHoek + Partners)
As renderings show, a mixed-use development is set to breathe new life into an empty lot on the corner of Van Brunt and Coffey Streets. The apartments will start on top of commercial space, and are expected to include a number of duplex and simplex units. Amenities are expected to include a roof terrace and ten parking spaces.
280 Richards Street
1 story
Completed in 2023
Completed in 2023
Google Streetview of 280 Richards Street
At one point, the former site of the Revere Sugar Factory was slated to house creative office space designed by Lord Norman Foster in what would be the Pritzker Prize laureate’s first Brooklyn commission. However, developer Thor Equities scrapped those plans in 2019; a year later, Amazon signed a 20-year lease for the distribution center that would rise instead.
Samson Stages, 740 Hicks Street
8 stories
Completion TBA
Completion TBA
Renderings of production facility (Samson Stages)
Hot on the heels of the Robert De Niro-backed Wildflower Studios in Astoria, Bjarke Ingels Group is hard at work on another studio in Red Hook. The project is an expansion of production company Samson Stages’ current facilities, and renderings of the “dynamic vertical village” show a building with eight stacked stages. In addition to the new soundstages, the project will include a new waterfront park with a green lawn, a baseball field, and a kayak launch.
150 Mill Street
10 stories
Completion TBA
Completion TBA
150 Mill Street (Department of City Planning)
Plans for a flashy new commercial building at 150 Mill Street date back to September 2017, when early renderings of a colorful design by Albo Liberis (now Archimaera) were revealed. Since then, the developer requested a rezoning in summer 2021, a more subdued rendering came out, and a ninth Environmental Assessment Statement was filed at the beginning of 2023. If approved, it would bring new retail, community facility, and office space to an empty lot four blocks from the Smith-9th Street F/G trains. It may take some time, though – permits have not been filed, and the proposal has not entered public review.
NYCHA Red Hook Houses renewal and resiliency program
Completion TBA
Rendering of NYCHA Red Hook Houses (Kohn Pedersen Fox)
All of Red Hook was hit hard during Superstorm Sandy, but residents of NYCHA’s Red Hook Houses went without power and fresh water for months. In the years that followed, in addition to replacing the roofs and mechanical rooms, NYCHA commissioned a renewal and resiliency program by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), the hallmark of which is an unobtrusive “lily pad” that rises up as a flood barrier, but serves as outdoor gathering spaces when not in use. The plan also features 14 “utility pods” that deliver heat and electricity to each building and two free-standing buildings for aboveground boilers that would also offer community space -- a West Plant with a planted roof, and an East Plant with social spaces and a translucent exterior.
The American Institute of Architects New York chapter (AIA NY) awarded KPF an Merit Award in Urban Design for the project in 2017. Since then, between the scale of the project, the desire to disrupt residential life as little as possible, and the pandemic-induced construction pause all over the city throughout 2020, it’s been slow going. While construction has topped out on the new buildings, only 20% of the “lily pads” have been completed as of July 2023.
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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