Future of Winchester's Carriage House Still Uncertain

At their meeting, the School Committee took another step toward making a , located next to the .

The structure, which is controlled by the School Department, was boarded up a few years ago as a new Ambrose school was being built. Since then, the century-old house has remained next to Ambrose, untouched.

Over the past few months, the School Committee has discussed what to do with the house.

“The carriage house is in disrepair,” said School Committee chair, Chris Linskey.

“The building has gone unattended for many years,” said Superintendent William McAlduff. “Without a defined use for the building we never prioritized it on the capital budget.”

Now, the committee has been asked by the Board of Selectmen to look at the possibility of excessing the property back to the town and to look at the house’s future.

Members of the Winchester Historical Society expressed interest in attaining the property. The society controls the Sanborn House, located across the parking lot from the carriage house, and has been working on refurbishing that building.

“We have worked hand-in-hand with the Ambrose school,” said the society’s president, Bob Colt. “We have a successful track record of working with the school department.”

Another option the committee has it to lease it to WinCam. According to President, Melody Wing, Winchester’s cable access channel can turn it into two studios – a larger one that can accommodate audiences of over a hundred people and a smaller one.

“We see it as a community space,” Wing said. “We can record and televise speakers that come to town. It would be a wonderful opportunity for Winchester.”

Currently, WinCam has its offices at Winchester High School.

“Occupying the high school has been a great educational experience for the students,” Wing said. “But the space is getting small and the interest in WinCam continues to grow.”

School Committee member Michael Shindelman, said that the school department can’t keep the carriage house.

“We need to look at the long-term possibilities,” Shindelman said. “We don’t have the resources to turn it into a viable educational opportunity.”

The main concern of the committee is the safety of the Ambrose students and the possible increase in a traffic a new tenant may bring in.

“The safety issued is related to the access to the site based on whatever comes to the building,” McAlduff said. “The fact remains that the only access to the property is from the Ambrose School and that’s a huge concern for us.”

The committee will be forming a committee to look at the possibilities of the carriage house, which will be formed no later than Jan. 24.