Posted August 05, 2010 at 6:43pm

By Amanda Peabody

Greystone mansion, the City’s premier historic site designated for events and filming opportunities, may soon open its interior to the public.

Equipped with a newly renovated, state-of-the-art catering kitchen, Greystone will likely become an even stronger competitor in the event space market thanks to the expanded offerings proposed to City Council Tuesday.

At present, rental space at Greystone is strictly limited to the exterior of the mansion and hours of use are restricted. Under the proposed plan, usage would include the first floor interior, expand hours of use to 10 p.m., employ a City-staffed manager of events and rentals (as well as administrative staff) and some renovations of the interior for ease of use such as adding more bathrooms. The City is also considering raising the rental fee for the site, called “low” by consultants, to industry standards.

The expansion of usage options is intended to generate additional funds for the City. Currently, Greystone operates at a deficit.

If approved, renovations and complete offerings are expected to be available by spring 2011.