UUFN purchased the current building in 2018:

  • 2018: UUFN members donated to the down payment and we took out a mortgage for the remainder and got a UUA grant to support the cost of installing an elevator. UUFN members did renovation work to maximize the usability of the space. 
  • 2019: UUFN retained Cermak Rhoades to evaluate our space needs, especially for parking, location of the septic tanks, religious education, kitchen, and social hall
  • 2020: UUFN purchased additional land from Knechts
  • 2020-2022: UUFN conducted services online during the pandemic

Post-Pandemic Restart: 

  • January 2023 - The congregation votes on an allocation of funds from the Lindfors legacy, including both short-term building improvements and funds set aside to support a bigger vision project.
  • February 2023 - The mortgage on the building was paid off with funds from the Lindfors legacy.
  • March 2023 - President Paul Krause appoints two task forces to work on building updates.  Wyman Weinbeck heads up a task force to work on short term updates with $25,000 of the Lindfors money.  Janet Scannell heads up the Building Vision Team which is leading the process of considering a major building project.  Other members of the Building Vision Team are Bev Topp, Martha Easter-Wells and Wyman Weinbeck.
  • May 2023 - Consultant Rachel Maxwell visited Northfield for a Next Steps Weekend to make recommendations for moving forward on a building project.  Her reports are on this website.

Current Process:

  • October 2023 - retained a design/build company (Langer Construction from St. Paul who brought in LHB Architects, also from St. Paul)
  • December 17th, 2023 - status report presentation to the congregation
  • February 11, 2024 - status report presentation to the congregation 
  • February 25, 2024 - congregation asked to authorize cost of additional work with the architects to take the sketch to a design on which bids could be received
  • February and March - congregational consideration of options through small group conversations
  • March 10 - Congregation voted to hold a capital campaign
  • April - joint capital campaign and annual budget campaign
  • May - Congregation receives results of campaigns and information about bids from contractor(s).
  • June  - Congregation votes on whether to build and votes on whether to take on a mortgage