08-04-2025
Reading Pagoda getting full makeover
Reading's Pagoda is getting a $4.7 million makeover inside and out.
Work began last week at the landmark building on Mount Penn.
The project is funded by $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds and about $1,7million in city investment, said David Anspach, city capital project manager.
'Basically, all surfaces are going to be attended to in one way or another,' Anspach said, 'whether it is paint, whether it is stain, whether it is remediating concrete, whether there is a section of the corner of the building that we're entirely rebuilding, there are remediations going on at all levels.'
The renovation plan aims for 60% to 75% waste reduction, he said, noting materials will be salvaged, reused or recycled to the extent possible.
The area around the Pagoda will be off limits to the public for safety during construction, officials noted, and a fence has been placed around the building.
David Anspach, city capital project manager, points out the recently installed security cameras at the Pagoda. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Anspach said the exterior upgrades include repointing the masonry, repainting wooden surfaces and replacing the existing incandescent lighting with a full light-emitting diode, or LED, package.
'We are anticipating and hoping that we will be completed with that for Dec, 25 for Santa this year,' Anspach said, referring to the longstanding tradition of blinking the Pagoda lights on Christmas Eve to signal Santa Claus.
The deteriorated lights were deemed unsafe for flashing, so a city firetruck filled in the last three years.
LED lighting, which uses significantly less energy and typically has a long lifespan, should result in substantial savings for the city on electric bills and in replacement costs.
The most significant structural repair, Anspach said, involves the northeast corner of the balcony where a portion of the concrete deteriorated, exposing a metal beam to corrosion.
David Anspach, city capital project manager, inspects weather damage to concrete areas of the Pagoda. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The beam and concrete must be replaced, he said, noting the repair is a major undertaking that will require temporary support for that corner of the building.
Interior rehabilitation includes upgrades to the heating and cooling system; fire safety measures, including installing new sprinkler heads; repairing and replacing plumbing fixtures as needed; and upgrading the lower-level restrooms to be ADA compliant.
A kitchenette that can be used for catered events will be installed on the first floor and will include hand-washing stations and food preparation areas.
Anspach said the project aims to modernize the facility for improved functionality and public use while preserving the historical architecture of the structure.
The history
The Pagoda was built in 1907 for William Abbott Witman, an entrepreneur and one-time mayoral candidate who owned a quarry on the site.
Witman planned the building as a resort but failed to obtain a liquor license, and the bank foreclosed on the property.
Reading department store owner Jonathan Mould and his wife, Julia Bell Mould, bought the property, which included 10 acres, and presented it to the city in 1911.
The Pagoda has undergone extensive repairs and upgrades in its 118 years, including the 1949 replacement of the original wooden balconies, columns, posts and railings with reinforced concrete and limestone.
Other major repairs were made in the 1970s under Mayor Victor Yarnell and the 1990s under Mayor Warren Haggerty.
Anspach said the goal is to complete the current project by the end of the year. A reopening date has not been set.
The city and Foundation for the Reading Pagoda, which oversees the property in partnership with the city, are in discussions about future operations, Anspach said.
Ideas include the possibility of a public-private partnership, he noted.
'I'm really proud to be part of a project that brings this local community icon back to where the public will be able to utilize it,' Anspach said.
English Bradley, chief of staff to Mayor Eddie Moran, and David Anspach, city capital project manager, stand outside the Pagoda as renovations begin. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
