Highlighting the Importance of strengthening Pennsylvania’s downtowns with proposed Main Street Matters program, the Shapiro Administration announced it is investing $500,000 in Reading.
The refurbished Trexler Mansion building, vacant for 40 years, will be used for Alvernia University’s CollegeTowne initiative, creating new meeting space for downtown job fairs.
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger was joined by Sen. Judy Schwank, Representative Manuel Guzman, Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freyitz, and local leaders to announce the investment to the Greater Berks Development Fund (GBDF), an affiliate of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA). The investment will assist Shuman Development Group’s project to refurbish the Trexler Mansion (Elks Club) in downtown Reading.
“Governor Shapiro is focused on making strategic investments, like the one we are celebrating here today in downtown Reading, that help our communities and main streets become better places to live, work and visit,” Siger said in a statement. “We’re looking to expand our impact on main streets across Pennsylvania and to empower local leaders to realize the full potential of their economies.”
The Trexler Mansion is a 27,000-square-foot building on property that anchors the South Fifth Street corridor and southern side of Reading’s Callowhill Historic District. Shuman Development Group looks to restore the historic mansion through its subsidiary entity Reading Historic Properties, LP, the current owner of the property.
“Here in Reading and Berks County, our family-owned small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities and drive economic growth,” said Schwank. “Governor Shapiro’s Main Street Matters program is an ambitious vision for economic development that is hyper-focused on supporting small businesses and revitalizing Main Streets across Pennsylvania. In recent years, we’ve seen significant state investments breathe new life into downtown Reading.”
Plans for reuse include a partnership with Alvernia University through its CollegeTowne Initiative to create meeting space for downtown job fairs as well as special event space for the Reading Public Library literacy outreach programs. The bulk of the grant, which is through the Keystone Communities Program, will be used for exterior work such as roof and roof structure repair/replacement, masonry, and window restoration.
In addition to DCED funding, the City of Reading and Berks County have each committed $300,000 to the project to help offset the costs of repairing the roof structural issues.
“Investing in the heart of Reading means revitalizing our community’s historic gems,” Mayor Eddie Moran said. “With this Keystone Communities grant awarded by DCED, we’re restoring the iconic Trexler Mansion and breathing life back into a once-vacant landmark. This project not only preserves our history but also paves the way for a brighter future.”
