A prominent 19th century Reading mansion could soon get new stonework, wrought-iron fencing and other improvements as its owner continues a yearslong effort to restore the property.
Gary Wegman appeared before the Reading Zoning Hearing Board last week seeking dimensional variances for work planned at Aldine, the historic brownstone mansion at 200 N. Fourth St.
The 10,000-square-foot mansion was built in the 1870s for Gustavus A. Nicolls, general superintendent of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.
Stately brownstone mansion in Reading has rich, prominent history
Wegman said he plans to replace deteriorated sidewalks, restore stone walls and install wrought-iron fencing and entrance pillars. The height of the proposed fencing and pillars exceeds what is permitted under the city’s zoning ordinance.
Wegman told the board that he also wants to extend a stone wall along Walnut Street and eventually create a driveway entrance there, with vehicles exiting onto North Fourth Street.
Gary Wegman, owner of the Aldine at 200 N. Fourth St., told the Reading Zoning Hearing Board that he’d eventually like to live in the mansion. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The work is part of a broader restoration of the mansion, he said. Wegman said exterior restoration work is scheduled to begin this month, with additional windows to be replaced and boards removed from the building.
“I’d like to live here eventually, and I’d like this building to be secure when I do so,” he said.
Wegman withdrew a request to install a stockade fence along one side of the property. He said conditions at a neighboring property have improved and he does not want to shade neighboring gardens with a solid fence. He instead plans to install fencing that allows sunlight through.
Other cases
Wegman’s request was one of five new or continued appeals heard by the board.
At 400 S. 10th St., owner Eric A. White is seeking approval to continue using a building as a two-unit dwelling, although the property is officially identified as a single-family home.
White said the property was already configured as two apartments when he bought it in 2023 and that he made no changes to create the second unit. He said he believed he was purchasing a two-unit investment property and did not discover the zoning issue until recently, when he sought a separate electric meter for common areas.
“We had no citation and no violation for four years on our end,” White said.
No one opposed the request.
The board also heard a continued appeal from Latin Fusion Baseball, a nonprofit seeking to use 1639 Mulberry St. for administrative offices and a small indoor baseball training facility.
Attorney Michael B. Senape said a revised plan limits the batting cages to four participants at a time and the building to no more than 10 occupants.
The property would provide 12 parking spaces.
One neighbor had raised concerns about on-street parking, but the board was told the revised plan provides sufficient off-street parking.
No one testified against the proposal.
The board also heard the appeal of Miguel Del Rio Jr. and Sweet Street Desserts Inc.
Del Rio is seeking approval to establish a commercial garage and notary and tag agency in an existing garage at 624 N. Third St.
The business would operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and perform mechanical repairs, he said, but no auto body work or painting.
Del Rio said he rents six off-street parking spaces and no vehicles would be parked on the street or sidewalk.
No one opposed the request.
Sweet Street Desserts Inc. is seeking variances to install eight directional signs on its 15.8-acre property at 722 Hiesters Lane.
Attorney Joan London said the signs are needed to safely direct employees, customers, vendors, delivery vehicles and tractor-trailers among the company’s offices, manufacturing and distribution operations and Cafe Sweet Street.
The signs exceed zoning limits on size and number but are intended for traffic direction rather than advertising, London said.
No one opposed the request.
The board is expected to decide those five appeals next month.
Decisions
Before conducting the hearings, the board rendered decisions on several cases heard in July.
It approved relief sought by Ovejas Negra LLC, doing business as United Insurance LLC, to expand an existing building at 1800 Hampden Blvd. The company requested variances involving setback, building coverage and impervious coverage requirements.
The board also approved requests to operate day care centers at 119 N. Eighth St. and 383 Schuylkill Ave., as well as a variance allowing Wyoming Valley Pharmacy to operate at 1220 Centre Ave.
The board also confirmed a one-year extension for the owner of 611 Chestnut St. to comply with conditions of an earlier zoning decision and granted Nidia M. DeJesus a one-year extension to meet conditions of a previous decision involving 601 N. Third St.