Naomi Fatouros, one of three children of architect H.I. Feldman, once wrote that her father “had no pretensions about being artistic.” Still, architects and builders had high regard for Feldman for creating building plans that minimized construction costs and that provided renters and buyers with good views and high-quality apartment layouts, she said in the letter to The City Review. Whatever the merits of each of the thousands of buildings that Hyman Isaac Feldman designed in the New York metropolitan region, The Cranlyn certainly exemplifies artistic beauty and style. This Brooklyn Heights building at 80 Cranberry St., like various high-rises Feldman also designed on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx early in his career, is a handsome Art Deco structure.
Walking Brooklyn Heights, I was particularly delighted to explore this building and several others with David Thompson, an expert on Art Deco and a friend who shares the wonder and inspiration of this style from all over the world on his blog, Art Deco Buildings. As with so many Art Deco structures, The Cranlyn rewards you the closer you look at it (which is a problem for many people who fly by in their walking). Built in 1931, it has what the AIA Guide to New York City calls “jazzy brickwork” in eye-catching bands and some dazzling features on the front and entrance and in the foyer.
In a city of constant change like New York, one especially appreciates survivors of a long history such as the Cranlyn building and hopes it will endure. It’s both a witness to a certain era of amazing design and a continual living entity as its residents’ home now. As a young architect, Feldman – who went on to design more than 4,000 apartment houses and commercial buildings in a career that lasted until the 1970s – rightfully earned praise for this building. He received the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s first award for best apartment house design in 1932, according to a bio in a New York Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) report. During some of the later decades of the 20th century, the owners didn’t keep the building in tip-top shape. Fortunately, in recent years, the owner has performed restorative work, as the Brooklyn Heights Blog notes. The building lies within the Brooklyn Heights Historic District, which affords it some protections from the LPC. Hopefully, too, the recent work augurs well for this Art Deco high-rise to reach its 100th birthday in 2031 well cared for. An appreciative look at it certainly reinforces why this matters.
The banded appearance above the entrance on Cranberry Street
Another view of the front
The striking decoration above the main entrance
A beautiful panel above the entrance, which shows rays of sunlight around a rendering of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower
A decorative panel above an exterior doorway
The elevator door in the lobby
An exquisite panel on the elevator door
A geometric pattern on the front of the lobby desk
View the slide show at Flickr.
Another great essay, Susan, made all the better by the fact that I was with you and was able to see the building firsthand which is too often not the case with the wonderful buildings you unearth.
Thank you so much, David! Very grateful. I quite agree with your sentiment — especially the joys of discovering a building when in the company of such a great friend as you. Now I have some questions I’m going to want to ask about it soon!
Can anyone tell me who “Cranlyn” was? I live in a home on Cranlyn Road in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Matt,
I tried to dig up who or what Cranlyn was when researching this building, but I wasn’t able to find an answer. I will give it another try and see what I find out because I have some other sources I can check out. Meanwhile, someone else may know the answer.
Interesting that you live on a road named Cranlyn. Thanks for posing the question!
Susan
“Cranlyn” is a combination of “Cranberry Street” (where the building is located) and “Brooklyn.” Nice photos!
Hi, Meagan,
I had never pulled apart those two parts of the name. That makes sense. (Of course, I’d love to see some document that says this exactly, if you know of one.) One can see the derivation, and I’m not sure why it hadn’t occurred to me.
So glad you enjoyed the photos!
Gratefully,
Susan
Cranberry + Brooklyn = Cranlyn
Great to read of this exploration of Cranlyn with our mutual friend, David, and to be introduced to the amazing details to be found in this building.
So glad that you enjoyed the exploration. It was great fun and inspiring to look at the Cranlyn with David. It’s definitely worth a look on your next visit to New York! Those panels are incredible.
Warm regards,
Susan
I know I’m a bit late to this “party”. It just happens that I visited the Cranlyn today and, as a result decided to do a little research on it. That’s how I found this blog. Thanks!
I’ve written about the building on my blog: http://midlifecycling.blogspot.com/2016/07/brooklyn-heights-another-reason-i-am.html
Hi, Justine,
Never too late for a party to celebrate the Cranlyn! It is such an interesting find in the middle of a neighborhood known more for earlier periods and its brownstones. I love the lobby of the building, as you can tell.
I’m equally happy to have found your blog now, Mid-Life Cycling, and I will follow your bike explorations. Thank you for linking to this essay on the Cranlyn there.
I very much appreciate your point of view, on your blog, about the experience in bicycling of really pausing, seeing, and experiencing what is around you. Bravo!
Susan
Susan,
Thank you. I look forward to reading more of your blog!
Justine,
Thank you! Likewise!
Susan
Are you sure that’s supposed to be an image of the Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower? It really looks nothing like that building, which has a dome on the top, not an elongated, pitched roof, 2 arched openings facing each side, not 5, and completely different setbacks than what is rendered in the carving above the doorway.
Hi Wesley,
As I understood it at the time of writing, this was a rendering of the Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower – albeit with some differences. I’m going to need to take a look at my original notes to ascertain the source(s). Do you have an idea of the alternative? I’ll definitely look back at my research.
More to come. Thank you for asking.
Susan
I lived there from 1988 until 2002 right after my mom passed away. My father was the Superintendent and my mom worked the front desk. I miss it so much.
Samantha,
Thank you for sharing your memories of this very lovely and historic building. I can understand that you miss it very much, particularly with the special family memories that you have of the Cranlyn. It must have been a wonderful home!
Gratefully,
Susan
I just came across your great webpage on the Cranlyn building and loved reading the history and seeing the great photos…it brought back wonderful memories. I lived there in the late 60’s from birth until I was about 5, and still remember Frank the superintendent and Mabel the lobby switchboard operator, who were both so warm and kind. It was like having extended family living there, and in such a beautiful building. Thank you very much for writing about it!
Roman,
How great to hear, as I have before, from someone who had lived in the Cranlyn building. Thank you! The Cranlyn is so beautiful. I appreciate you sharing such special memories of the building’s superintendent and lobby switchboard operator (Frank and Mabel, respectively), and what that meant during your childhood. Those are memories that stay with us, for sure. The features of such a lovely building and the people who are on its staff truly do elevate one’s experience, especially as a child.
I know it is one of my favorite buildings in the city, and I’m grateful that you shared your very particular memories of the Cranlyn!
Susan