The Pink Houses of Brooklyn: A Brief History

Located in the heart of Brooklyn's St. Albans neighborhood lies a sprawling complex of over 1,800 apartments known as the Pink Houses. Originally built during World War II to house war workers and their families who had moved north from other parts of New York City for employment opportunities, these iconic buildings have seen it all.

The name 'Pink Houses' is believed to have been given due to the pinkish hue that covers much of their exterior brickwork over time. This phenomenon occurs when exposure to pollutants in the air reacts with moisture seeping through cracks and crevices within mortar joints between individual bricks - giving off a reddish tint which gradually darkens into full-on pinkness depending upon how long ago construction took place!

Today, many residents still call these infamous structures home despite ongoing struggles with disrepair. Despite being considered 'public housing,' conditions inside often reflect more closely what one might expect from an inner-city slum rather than anything resembling decent living arrangements - further testament to decades of neglect by local authorities.

Despite the challenges faced by its current inhabitants, however, there remains a certain grim allure about these faded pink monoliths standing sentinel over St. Albants' industrial landscape like sentinels guarding secrets from another era...

History of the pink houses in brooklyn