Historical Commission Expresses Concern over Winchester Hospital

The Historical Commission met Monday night to discuss construction at Winchester Hospital, to finalize the demolition bylaw revision and propose changes to the 106-year-old DPW building on Linden Street.

With the demolition phase at the Winchester Hospital about to begin, the commission is concerned the hospital is not following the terms of the permit.

Part of those conditions is that hospital officials need to present to the commission their plans for the stabilization of the structure, and the preservation of the Mill Building.

"Our goal is to preserve the historical integrity to the best of our ability," Chairman Jack LeMenager said. "Our judgment on the points they presented to us is that it is so far insufficient."

On Friday August 6, commission members completed a site visit to the hospital in which they were left with questions about the direction of the project.

"There's confusion about what the representative told us, and what we expected in terms of renovations," Charlene Band said.

According to Heather von Mering, along with the need for the hospital to outline its plan to stabilize the building, there are other areas of concern, too. She said the bricks are different from the ones that had been originally proposed and the windows do not match the existing ones.

Commission members decided to draft a letter to the Winchester Hospital requesting they meet and present their plans so that a proper decision can be made.

Vice Chairman Bruce Hickey advised that additional measures must be taken so that their concerns about the renovations are addressed.

"The Planning Board issued the permit," Hickey said.  "They need to write a comprehensive letter to the hospital."

The commission also debated proposed changes to the demolition bylaw.

The primary point of contention surrounded the notion of partial demolition. If approved, the commission would impose a set percentage that an owner of a historic building would be permitted to renovate.

Concern though was expressed about the Commission expanding its scope too far.

"It's about the rights of the owners too," Charlene Band said.  "There has to be an element of fairness for property owners."

Instead the primary approved revision to the bylaw was a new clause allowing for the demolition of a historic building if it poses a threat to public safety.  

The First Baptist Church roof work was briefly discussed. The commission agreed it was beyond their jurisdiction since the church is simply repairing a leaking roof.

Under new business, the comission discussed the historic DPW building that was built in 1904 by Robert Coit. According to Charlene Band this structure is on the National Register of historic places.

"It was once a significant building in town," Band said.  "It was a stable. The DPW had horses there."

Currently the DPW building has no windows. They have all been bricked over. The Commission would like to see the brick removed and the windows replaced.

At this point in time the Historical Commission has jurisdiction over a historic building's visibility from the street.

The next planned meeting of the Commission will be on Sept. 13 in the Mystic Valley Room at Town Hall.