Reading’s plan to demolish another property in the 400 block of Penn Street hit a roadblock when the Historical Architectural Review Board denied a request to fully raze the building.
The board previously gave approval for a partial demolition of the building at 441 Penn St. in the Callowhill Historic District on the condition that the facade be preserved.
The board had placed the same stipulation on the neighboring city-owned properties at 431 and 435 Penn St. However, the buildings were razed this year after the city’s contractor determined the frontage could not be safely saved.
David Barr, city community development director, said the current request involves a similar situation.
The façade’s structural integrity is questionable, he said, noting the cost of repairs and stabilization would likely approach $1 million.
“It really boils down to: Is this expense worth retention of that façade or is that money in a limited budget better put toward the retention of roofing primarily at the Farmers National Bank building?” Barr said, referring to the classical-revival-style building next door, which the city has pledged to maintain.
Structural engineer Frederick Germann described rotation and cracking along the parapet and damage to the decorative terracotta. Germann said moisture infiltration contributed to the deterioration. Without reinforcement, he said, the wall’s strength is uncertain.
Preserving the façade, he said, would require excavation, construction of new foundations, installation of a concrete block wall and structural bracing.
Even a conservative estimate, Barr said, would consume scarce resources that the city would rather spend on stabilizing the two properties that are still intact.
Board members pushed back on Thursday, noting the city has not submitted a formal financial hardship application with detailed estimates, a requirement before financial hardship can be considered.
That puts the board in a bind, said Aaron Booth, a board member and professional architect.
“Given that we don’t see that it is impossible to save that façade, I would say that it is appropriate to restore the façade,” Booth said. “Whether or not it’s financial hardship, we can’t speak to tonight.”
The deterioration did not occur suddenly, City Managing Director Jack Gombach said, but is the result of deferred maintenance over several city administrations.
Delays could increase public safety risks as winter approaches, he said, warning that water infiltration and freezing could further destabilize the façade, raising the chance of collapse.
Board members countered that structural deficiencies had been identified as far back as 2013, giving the city ample time to gather the required documentation.
The city’s Historic District ordinance can be waived if the city’s building inspector or fire marshal determines a structure’s condition to be an imminent public danger.
City Council at a recent meeting authorized transferring $310,500 from property maintenance funds to emergency demolition, signaling that the administration is prepared to move quickly.
The three-story Italian Renaissance Revival-style structure, is part of a city-owned string of five parcels, 431 to 449 Penn St.
Berks County historian George M. Meiser IX said the building was once home to Consumer Gas Company, and later part of American Bank and Trust and its successors. Along with the adjacent properties, it was part of the bank’s 1982 Keystone project.
The city bought the mostly vacant and dilapidated buildings in 2013 for $2.6 million under then-Mayor Vaughn D. Spencer.
An agreement with Philadelphia-based real estate developer Philly Office Retail to purchase and develop the properties failed to be completed by the August deadline, city officials confirmed, noting new plans to market the properties are underway.
Barr and Gombach said the city is committed to preserving and developing the landmark buildings at 445 and 449 Penn St.
Barr, who grew up in Reading, said he is mindful of the long history tied to the block. He said he understands the historical and architectural importance of the buildings, noting it is unfortunate that the city allowed them to deteriorate.
He recalled standing on the sidewalk outside the buildings as a child, holding his mother’s hand and watching parades down Penn Street.
“These are important buildings to me, too,” Barr said. “It’s sad to see them go.”
Board solicitor Michele Mayfield said the city may file a new application that includes the necessary financial documentation or it may appeal the denial to City Council.
Source: Berkshire mont