Columbia Street Waterfront District, Brooklyn

Located along the industrial piers just north of Red Hook, the Columbia Street Waterfront District is a narrow strip of multi-family homes and community gardens. The population here is predominantly white and Hispanic. A far more diverse collection of hipsters, artists,and families have moved in during the past decade. This neighborhood is known to be slightly more upscale than Red Hook, but it's not really my style (that's just me though). Although this is a waterfront area, it has a very industrial feel and the views are mostly of the cranes. Still, an increasing number of people seem to find its semi-industrial vibe appealing. There are stores and restaurants here, but nothing that would really draw attention from tourists or outsiders. There are a few trendy businesses and there are a few bars in town too. One thing that it has in its favor is the diversity and convenience of the public transportation options. There are about ten subway lines that run from the Columbia Street Waterfront District to Manhattan. There are also buses that residents can take to downtown Brooklyn or Park Slope. The community gardens here are also a big draw; they are lovely and open to the public. This is also a very safe neighborhood.

South Brooklyn has its share of middle class neighborhoods, and this one is certainly not much different. This area is bordered by some industrial piers on the Upper New York Bay – which makes for an interesting site if you’re into cranes, but not exactly something anyone would write home to mother about. The residents here have a bit more money than their southernmost Red Hook neighbors (which by the way is where all the artists are currently moving in for the cheapest possible rents). Actually, many people in this area are confused as to whether they are actually in Red Hook or not.