The effort to restore a historic building in Reading is getting a financial boost from the state.
State officials announced Tuesday that the ongoing effort by Shuman Development Group to rehabilitate the Trexler Mansion has been awarded a $1.45 million grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
The matching grant will be used to rehabilitate the building for event and office space while retaining its history to ensure it remains a focal point in the Reading community. The project will include repairing masonry work and restoring windows, including the stained-glass window on the main stairwell inside the building, along with replacing the front and side doors.
Additionally, the four-lane bowling alley and taproom in the basement level will be restored and a rooftop garden terrace will be reconstructed for outdoor space.
Built by banker and ironmaster Horatio Trexler in 1869, the French Second Empire style mansion on the corner of Fifth and Franklin streets was once one of Reading’s most fashionable addresses. He lived in it until his death at 87 years old in 1900.
The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge 115 in Reading bought it in 1906. The order spent several thousand dollars in immediate improvements and built a $50,000 addition.
Renovation project
The Shuman Development Group purchased the building, which had been vacant for about 50 years, last May with the intention of renovating it as a venue.
Alan Shuman said Tuesday that he was pleased to have received the state grant and was grateful for the support from local officials who helped secure the funding.
“This money will all be going to local craftsmen and artisans to restore the historic aspects of the building,” he said. “This will allow the building to really be brought to the condition that it was once in. I love restoring these historic buildings and this gives us a chance to do it properly.”
Shuman said the project is estimated at $6 million and is slated to be complete by fall of 2023. While the renovations have yet to begin, he said crews have been busy gutting the building in preparation for the restoration to be done by local artisans.
“It does take a long time to get all the federal approvals needed to work on a building that has been designated a historical structure,” he said. “But we hope to have everything we need in the next 60 days so we can really get the project moving.”
State Rep. Manny Guzman, who advocated for the grant along with many other local lawmakers, commended the state for its distribution of funds to help complete the renovations.
“The Trexler Mansion has been a part of Reading’s vibrant past for over 150 years,” he said. “This building is a living, breathing testament to the individuals who built this city from the ground up, and I am thrilled to see these dollars be utilized to honor their memory by ensuring the Trexler Mansion continues to be at the center of Reading’s story for generations to come.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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