Green-Wood Cemetery Reveals Plans for Weir Greenhouse

The Green-Wood Cemetery is moving forward on the renovation of the Weir Greenhouse and has released the plans for what will become the Cemetery’s new visitor’s center. The dilapidated building on the corner of 5th Avenue and 25th Street is the only known Victorian commercial greenhouse still standing in New York City. It was landmarked in 1982.

Green-Wood Cemetery bought the building in 2012 for $1.6 million and received $500,000 from the New York State Regional and Economic Development Council to restore it in 2013.

According to Brownstoner, the cemetery’s architect firm, Page Ayres Cowley, which specializes in adaptive reuse and restoration of historic buildings, will present its plans to the Landmarks Preservation Commission today. A presentation is available online for viewing here.

The cemetery also wants to demolish “ancillary structures” — including two 19th-century buildings that look like row houses adjacent to the greenhouse — add onto the greenhouse, and put up a new building that wraps around the greenhouse.

The Weir Greenhouse dates from 1880 and for more than a century, it sold flowers to visitors and for funerals. It was once only one of many greenhouses in the area and part of a network of growers.

The proposed new building that will go up behind the greenhouse is a brick structure that looks like a regular office building. It will house support offices for the cemetery.

What do you think of the plans?