Red Hook is developing, condo by condo, from the waterside out. A spit of land that juts out into the East River (red is the color of the soil, and the Dutch word “hoek” means “point,”) once-industrial Red Hook has welcomed popular grocer Fairway as a keystone in its redevelopment. Now, one of New York’s oldest working ports is home to new condos that offer amenities such as solid mahogany doors, jacuzzi tubs, and private balconies. Roof decks — some shared, some private — take advantage of Red Hook’s stunning water views, which include unrivaled views of the Statue of Liberty. Some Red Hook apartments are located in converted townhouses whose renovations include central air conditioning, kitchens with stainless-steel appliances, and oak floors.

More Since Red Hook is dockside — it’s the neighborhood that inspired “On the Waterfront” — transportation includes a water taxi as well as the F and G subway lines. Shoppers also come over by boat from Manhattan to visit IKEA Brooklyn on Beard Street in Red Hook, where there are furniture, kitchen makeovers, and all sorts of housewares for sale. Yet Red Hook isn’t just about condos and mega-stores. Van Brunt Street is restaurant row. Fifty-eight-acre Red Hook park includes softball fields, handball courts, and a football field. The Brooklyn Waterfront Artists’ Coalition holds three gallery shows a year, and Freebird Books, with Writopia Lab, sponsors workshops for kids interested in writing. Less