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Caltagirone announces $1.5 million grant for Reading project

from the Office Of Rep. Tom Caltagirone

Aug 02, 2019

HARRISBURG, PA – A $1.5 million grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program has been awarded to and will help in the rehabilitation of the Berks County Trust Co. Building, state Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, announced Thursday.

The Berks County Trust Co. Building was built in 1910. The building stands as one of the best examples of the Beaux Arts style of architecture, or Greco-Roman styling, in the city of Reading. The building is the focus of a proposed $10.1 million project by Acme Structure X to restore the building to its former prominence.

“The Berks County Trust Co. Building has stood in the city of Reading for more than a century,” Caltagirone said. “It remains an important building in our city, and this grant will help revitalization efforts to make certain the Trust Company Building remains an important part of our city for generations to come.”

The $1.5 million grant is expected to fund repairs to terra-cotta units and the replacement of cracked marble panels. The building’s current roof, which has deteriorated, will be replaced to prevent water from entering the building.

The building’s plaster vestibule will be restored on the first floor, and outdated systems will be replaced to improve energy efficiency and to provide air conditioning in the main building and its addition. Restrooms and security measures will also be updated.

The state funds are administered by the Office of the Budget to assist in construction of regional, economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. More information on the RACP program is available at www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP.

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