Buildings to be demolished at Welwyn Preserve
Glen Cove’s Welwyn Preserve, known for its wooded hiking trails, is just steps away from the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, on Crescent Road. The preserve’s decaying, abandoned buildings are often marked with graffiti depicting pop culture characters, but in recent years, symbols of hate have appeared as well on the abandoned buildings and trees.
Now the County Legislature’s Rules Committee has taken a significant step toward improving the safety of the 204-acre preserve, approving a $988,000 contract for the demolition of three deteriorating and unsafe structures there. This marks the beginning of efforts to address the hazardous conditions at the former estate of Harold Irving Pratt, which is now home to the Holocaust Center.
The contract will fund the demolition of the laundry building, which is attached to the center, and the greenhouse complex, both of which have been in a state of disrepair for decades. The buildings, once part of a grand estate, have not been maintained and have fallen victim to the elements, neglect and vandalism, including graffiti and hate symbols such as swastikas, which have appeared sporadically over the years.
The decision to demolish the structures comes amid mounting safety concerns. According to Jolanta Zamecka, vice chairman of the Holocaust Center, the buildings have long been a focus of worry for staff and visitors alike.
“The laundry house, which is directly attached to our center, could have been saved years ago with proper funding,” Zamecka explained. “Unfortunately, the roof has completely caved in, and it’s now an imminent danger. People continue to enter despite the fencing and warnings, and it could collapse at any moment.”
“It has become dangerous for anyone to be near it,” she said. “We’re relieved that the county has finally decided to move forward with the demolition. It’s absolutely necessary to protect public safety.”
The property boasts a diverse natural environment, with marshes, ponds, and the Long Island Sound shoreline. Over the years, however, many of the former estate’s buildings have been neglected or damaged. While the Holocaust Center underwent renovations in 1994, as it grew into a vital educational institution, the laundry house, the greenhouse and other structures were left to decay.
Last year, a hiker found a swastika and an MS-13 gang tag on trees in the preserve, just steps from the center. There had been similar incidents in 2019 and 2021, raising concerns about the preserve’s safety and its unwanted targeting for hate-related vandalism.
“What we’ve had happen is incidences of graffiti — having swastikas there and the fact that we’re a Holocaust center — that to us becomes quite alarming,” Zamecka said. “From our perspective, taking down the greenhouses, taking down the laundry house is something that we are very grateful to the county for.”
While the demolition is seen as a necessary measure, officials remain hopeful that other historic structures in the preserve can be saved. The tennis house, another notable building on the estate, has also fallen into disrepair, but Zamecka believes it can be saved.
“The tennis house has a beautiful architectural design, including a grand staircase, and if we had acted sooner, much of the damage could have been prevented,” she said. “With the right funding and care, it could still be restored.”
The idea of forming a “Friends of Welwyn” group has been floated as a potential way to preserve structures like the tennis house. A private partnership could allow community members to raise funds and apply for grants to support restoration efforts. Zamecka pointed to the success of similar groups, such as the Friends of Sands Point Preserve, which has played a crucial role in maintaining and restoring historic structures on Long Island.
But efforts to form such a group for the preserve were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, and Zamecka said that the administration of County Executive Bruce Blakeman has not shown an interest in reviving the initiative. Blakeman could not be reached for comment. Zamecka and other community members remain hopeful that the group could still be established in the future.
In the meantime, the county’s decision to proceed with the demolition of the unsafe structures is seen as a vital step in improving safety in the preserve. Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, the minority leader on the Rules Committee, expressed gratitude for the committee’s approval of the contract.
“Welwyn Preserve is a historic and natural treasure for Nassau County, and the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center is a beacon in the fight against antisemitism,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “This investment in the safety and beautification of the preserve is essential for protecting visitors and ensuring that this space remains a place of learning and reflection.”
The demolition project is expected to begin soon, though a timeline for its completion has yet to be determined.
