Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Downtown Reading Investments
The City of Reading is home to more than 94,000 people and there are 640,000 people within a 20-mile radius. Because it is within same-day driving distance to Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, and New York – Reading offers a lower cost of living with big-city amenities.
Reading is steeped in history: from an industrial past to a railroad hub to a shopping destination. Reading’s future, however, is something we are actively shaping: a vibrant, diverse urban center that provides outstanding nightlife and dining, easy access to trails, and a flourishing business community. The tools, resources, and people to make that vision a reality are all right here. It is our outstanding business network, ambitious, skilled workforce, and a strong sense of community that set us apart.
Downtown Reading Investments
The City of Reading is home to more than 94,000 people and there are 640,000 people within a 20-mile radius. Because it is within same-day driving distance to Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, and New York – Reading offers a lower cost of living with big-city amenities.
Reading is steeped in history: from an industrial past to a railroad hub to a shopping destination. Reading’s future, however, is something we are actively shaping: a vibrant, diverse urban center that provides outstanding nightlife and dining, easy access to trails, and a flourishing business community. The tools, resources, and people to make that vision a reality are all right here. It is our outstanding business network, ambitious, skilled workforce, and a strong sense of community that set us apart.
Located across the street from the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, IMAX Theater, and RACC campus, the apartment building features 59 units and private parking. The building opened in 2012.
Total Investment: $17.4 M
A 145,000 square foot, five-story community arts campus f/ a small movie theater, artist studios, galleries, art classes, glass, wood, and ceramics studios, making it the largest interactive arts center in the U.S. and opened in 2006
Total Investment: $11 M
Anchoring the west-end of Penn Street and Downtown Reading, the Reading Area Community College campus offers associates degrees, professional development, and training to over 4,000 students on an annual basis.
Total Investment: $8.3 M
Anchoring the west-end of Penn Street and Downtown Reading, the Reading Area Community College campus offers associates degrees, professional development, and training to over 4,000 students on an annual basis.
Intimate performing arts theater on the Reading Area Community College Campus opened in 2007
Total Investment: $16 M
Hotel to apartment conversion completed in 2017 features 97 one- and two-bedroom market-rate apartments and private parking.
Total Investment: $11 M
Complete redevelopment of property re-positioning of retail on street-level and upper floor offices. Now home to Reading Distilling Guild opened in December 2019.
Total Investment: $2 M
The Arena opened in 2001 seats up to 8,800 for concerts and 7,200 for hockey, is home to the Reading Royals, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, of the ECHL.
Total Investment: $42.5 M
Top-performing DoubleTree in the U.S., the hotel opened in 2015 and offers flexible event space for up to 2,000 guests, including an amphitheater, boardroom, and 15 meeting rooms.
Total Investment: $60 M
Formerly a passenger rail train station restored by Berks Area Transit Authority in 2013 – now home to Saucony Creek Franklin Street Brewpub opened in July 2019.
Total Investment: $4.5 M
Reading CollegeTowne is a strategy and model being led by Alvernia University for championing economic redevelopment in Downtown Reading. In December 2019, Alvernia announced that it entered into an agreement of sale on 401 Penn St. as the genesis for Reading CollegeTowne. The building will open in Fall 2021.
Investment: $20 M
The award-winning Reading Public Library is located at 100 S 5th Street - anchoring the south side of the downtown area.
In May 2018, Reading Public Library was selected as a recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Anchoring the north-side of the Downtown area at N 6th and Walnut Streets, Penn State Health St. Joseph provides health care and preventive services to the community.
The Downtown location employs 275 people.
Home to the US District Court – Eastern District of PA, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, and Entech Engineering.
Over 150 employees work out of this building. 
601 Penn Street is home to Santander Bank. 645 is home to numerous office tenants and retail end-users like Cafe de Colombia, Dunkin Donuts, and Reading Science Center, and Salsa Burrito situated in the heart of downtown Reading.
Over 1,000 employees work in the two buildings. 