Demolition is underway at a former chemical plant in Reading that was damaged by two arson fires in 2023.
Razing of the Lincoln Chemical Co. building follows completion of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s removal of hazardous waste from the site in May 2025.
The building at South Ninth and Laurel streets sustained significant damage during the fires.
The first fire occurred Oct. 31, 2023, about 5:30 p.m. when callers reported smoke pushing from the upper floors of the building.
Firefighters found a stairwell fire extending into the roof assembly and controlled it within 30 minutes.
The second fire, discovered Nov. 2 about 8 p.m., tore through the upper floors of the warehouse, causing a partial collapse of the three-story brick building and prompting a monthslong closure of nearby streets while environmental officials assessed hundreds of chemical drums left behind by the previous operator.
Reading firefighters battle a two-alarm blaze at the former Lincoln Chemical Co. building at Ninth and Laurel streets on Nov. 2, 2023. Officials ruled the fire an arson. (BILL UHRICH -READING EAGLE)
The dilapidated state of the building after the fires posed a risk to public health and the environment, officials said. That led the EPA to begin an emergency removal action at the site — known as the Reading Drum site — partnering with state and local agencies to mitigate the hazard.
Officials said more than 550 containers of hazardous materials were removed from the site, including flammable, combustibles, acids, bases, oxidizers and peroxides.
EPA officials said the cleanup effort cost about $1.8 million.
The Lincoln Chemical Co. owned the Ninth and Laurel streets building for about 30 years before the company ceased operations within the last few years. The building was owned by Reading Brewing Co. for 90 years until the mid-1970s. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The 137-year-old three-story brick building was owned by Lincoln Chemical Co. for about 30 years before the company ceased operations within the last few years. The building was owned by Reading Brewing Co. for 90 years until the mid-1970s.
The planning commission has tabled a revised plan from 630 S. 9th Street LLC for the property at 601 S. Ninth St. pending submission of updated plans.
A development project on the site near East Laurel Street is being revised after cleanup and construction work uncovered remnants of the former Reading Brewery’s walls and foundation and altered plans for the site.
The project originally was approved in three phases, but changes in site conditions prompted the owner to pursue a revised final plan for the entire property.
Plans include parking and vehicle-storage areas that would serve an automotive business across the street at 630 S. Ninth St., including space for vehicles being worked on or awaiting parts.
(Reporter Michelle Lynch contributed to this report.)