READING, Pa. – The Reading Planning Commission learned Tuesday night that Reading Area Community College has withdrawn its plans to expand its student union building at 25 S. Front St.
A sticking point to the project related to the fact that the college — located next to the Schuylkill River — is in the Commercial Core zoning district and the Floodplain Overlay district.
The college was planning to “wet proof” the structure by locating key amenities of the building to a proposed second floor.
Flood-proofing regulations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers require “dry proofing” or making the building watertight, but the college contended that would be cost prohibitive because it would most likely require the existing building to be razed and rebuilt.
Last month, during a special meeting scheduled to approve the plan, the planners learned that the city needed to continue ongoing investigations into the floodplain issue.
The now-defunct project had included expanding the building to offer amenities such as student club offices, meeting spaces, a fitness center and sports room, a computer lab, some classrooms and an event space.
College President Susan D. Looney sent the planning commission written correspondence to commend city officials for their efforts to find a solution that balances the city’s regulatory responsibilities with the college’s goals.
“We will revisit the student union building project in the future with alternative design options,” Looney wrote.