We missed the Brooklyn Daily story yesterday about Green-Wood Cemetery’s pending purchase of of the landmark McGovern-Weir Florist building that talked about how the cemetery’s motivation for buying and renovating the structure has to do with making Green-Wood more attractive to tourists: “Even with its history, the 173-year-old cemetery just south of Prospect Park hasn’t been a huge tourist draw since the horse-and-buggy days — though in recent years, the cemetery has reached out to a new audience with tours and site-specific dance pieces.” The cemetery intends to turn the building into a visitors’ center and museum. Meanwhile, Aaron Brashear of the Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights is quoted as saying that he thinks renovating the long-dilapidated structure on 25th Street and 5th Avenue will be “a win for both the neighborhood and the cemetery.” The sale of the building hasn’t made it to public records yet, but it was listed for $1,500,000 along with an adjacent wood-frame house. We wonder how much a thorough renovation is going to cost.
Green-Wood’s New Gateway? [Brooklyn Daily]
City Council Approves Sale of Landmark Florist Building [Brownstoner]
Landmark Greenwood Florist Building in Contract [Brownstoner]
Landmarked Florist Building Up For Sale [Brownstoner] GMAP


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Greenwood was designed to be a tourist destination. It is a romantic landscape that is located on an historic site that is the highest point in the Boro. The potential for nature hikes and botanical tours as well as architectural and historic tours of the monuments and “residents” makes it interesting. Having a visitors center with a cafe, rest rooms, and orientation sessions is a great idea. Greenwood is like Prospect Park without the crowds or the speeding cyclists.

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