An engine in motion

Feb. 7, 2024 | Chloe Noll, Building and Stewardship Committee Clerk, BHFH Board

For those who do not know me, my name is Chloe Noll and I am the clerk of the Building Stewardship Committee for Beacon Hill Friends House. I have an exciting announcement: BHFH is about to enter a process to vision and plan for the future of our building.

Since joining the building stewardship committee last year, and as Housie Board Representative, I have been amazed by the incredible progress Beacon Hill Friends House has made on investing in the future of our beloved building. From hiring our Facility Manager, Ben, to applying to and securing a Community Preservation Act grant, many things have changed for the better in just a single year.

During our last Board Meeting, the Board approved BHFH to work with the architecture firm, the DREAM collaborative, on a comprehensive plan for our building. This process will kick off in March and should finish by early June. Stay tuned for more updates from us!

We are also working with the DREAM collaborative to restore and renovate our outside deck as part of our Boston Community Preservation Act grant funding.

While so much is going well, we know we still need to do more. Our building was built in 1804, and for a very different purpose. We want to make our building safe, accessible and welcoming for all who wish to use our space, from the BHFH residents, to the Beacon Hill Friends Meeting, to local community groups, to our guest room guests. But currently, friends in wheelchairs cannot make it beyond the basement floor.

We need to invest in restoration of the historic and distinctive parts of our building in tandem as we renovate for the future to make the building work best for our mission. I have personally witnessed the engine of change moving in our building. I hope that we are able to continue fueling this fire beyond the limits of the CPA grant, so that this house will be safe, structurally sound, and accessible for decades to come.