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The Reading Zoning Hearing Board has approved a plan to transform a former Albright College dormitory into a 38-unit apartment building. The decision, made on Wednesday night (June 11), allows the 100-year-old building on North 13th Street to be repurposed, despite having been vacant since 2023.
SI Holdings IV, the property owner, presented the proposal, which includes nine studio apartments, 23 one-bedroom apartments, and five two-bedroom apartments. To address parking concerns, the developers requested a reduction in the required off-street parking spaces. While the zoning ordinance mandates 1.5 spaces per unit, totaling 57 spaces, the site currently offers 12 spaces. The plan is to redevelop the lot to accommodate 21 spaces.
A traffic study supporting the proposal indicated sufficient on-street parking availability, with 120 spaces within 300 feet of the site. The board's approval marks a significant step in revitalizing the area, as the project aligns with a proposed transit-oriented development ordinance aimed at enhancing downtown Reading.
WFMZ.com reported that the conversion plan is part of broader efforts to adapt and repurpose existing structures within the city.