We're Moving – Please Come Visit!

By Deborah Neisel-Sanders

Leading up to the move of UUA Headquarters we want you to know how youth group/constituent visits will be impacted. – Ed.

Welcome the Future of Our Faith

Here at the UUA we’re looking forward to our upcoming move across town to 24 Farnsworth Street. If you haven’t heard, our move to a new building will employ a collaborative and open workspace, feature the best in sustainable and green design, give us access to cutting edge technology and, most importantly, create an inspiring and welcoming new home for our faith headquarters.

One of the things we are most excited about is that we think the new building will offer a better experience for visiting youth groups and Coming of Age classes. We hope that when our visitors walk in the door they’ll immediately feel how UU principles have shaped the space and see it as an example of our values brought to life. However, we also know that groups around the country are right now planning their trips for next spring, so we wanted to update you with as much information as we have.

Here’s what you need to know:

Tours

The move is currently scheduled to be completed in late February/early March 2014. As a result, no tours or constituent meetings will be held from December 15, 2013 to March 17, 2014. Please feel free to call now to schedule tours and/or constituent meetings for after March 17th. If these dates change, we will be sure to let you know, and we appreciate your flexibility and understanding if in advance!

[ETA: Our packing and moving dates have changed - as a result, we will not be able to host tours or constituent meetings until after the end of June 2014. But please contact us at youth@uua.org if you have an issue and we'll see what we can do to help.]

Heritage and Vision Center

While the structure of our new Heritage and Vision Center is scheduled to be in place at 24 Farnsworth Street by the time tours resume on March 17th, we expect it will take several months for the Center to be fully developed. We encourage you to also take advantage of the wealth of other UU history and landmarks available in the greater Boston area. A comprehensive list can be found in our resource “Visiting Boston with Youth,” a link to which can be found at the bottom of the “Youth Group Visits” page on the UUA website.

Lodging

As part this move, the UUA will be closing the Pickett and Eliot House (”P&E”) bed and breakfast-style lodging operated by the UUA, an option that many youth groups have taken advantage of over the years. P&E will be accepting reservations through June 30, 2014; please feel free to make reservations for up until that date through the normal process.

We understand what a help staying at P&E has been for a visiting youth group, so we have identified and are developing several alternatives for the future:

  • The UUA is developing a relationship with Club Quarters, a chain of membership hotels, and will work to give visiting youth groups access to the UUA’s discounted rate. Club Quarters is located in the Financial District at 161 Devonshire Street, about a 15-minute walk from 24 Farnsworth Street.
  • We are working with local congregations to compile a list of those who are willing to arrange for visiting youth groups to stay with them, either at the church building (if they have the facilities) or through home-stays with the families of their youth group members.
  • We also suggest checking out the Boston location of Hosteling International at 19 Stuart Street, centrally located in the Theatre District. From there it is a short walk to Arlington Street Church, King’s Chapel, and several stations providing access to three different subway lines. It’s also about a 20-minute walk to the new UUA headquarters location.

We are so looking forward to the opportunity to immensely improve the experience of visiting the UUA for youth groups on heritage trips! We know you’ll enjoy and appreciate this new future we are all creating together.

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24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA. 02210
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