Reading City Council received an update on the status of three key downtown buildings, each in a different stage of redevelopment. The Berkshire Apartments, at 501 Washington St., is now complete with its 79 market-rate apartments, though it awaits final state approval on a sewer planning module. The Madison Apartments (formerly the Met-Ed building) at 400 Washington St., is nearing completion on its 83 market-rate units, with a projected opening in October 2025. However, council members raised concerns about falling pieces of the building’s cornice and terra cotta. Lastly, the former Reading Eagle building at 345 Penn St., a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone property, is back on the market for $3.25 million after initial redevelopment plans fell through. The city hopes to see it transformed into a retail or entertainment destination, with data suggesting it’s best suited for restaurants or clothing and grocery stores.
