READING, Pa. — A major redevelopment is taking shape in north central Reading, where the old Glidden Paint factory once stood.
Developer Alan Shuman says his team is in the process of securing city approvals for the 14-acre site. That process could take up to a year, but the vision is already clear.
“We’re up at the old Glidden site here in north central Reading. Right now, we’re working through city approvals. It’ll probably take six to twelve months to move through all of them,” said Shuman, president of Shuman Development Group.
On Tuesday, more than 40 commercial realtors from across Berks County were invited for a private tour of the site to review space plans and learn more about what’s ahead.
“A lot of the commercial and retail users for this site are looking for spaces two to five years out,” Shuman explained. “Now’s the time when they start looking at options like this.”
Located near Centre Avenue and Bern Street, just down the block from FirstEnergy Stadium, the project could reshape this section of the city. If everything goes as planned, construction could begin in 2026 with the first building opening by 2027.
The current proposal includes three buildings and roughly 170,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, designed to become a neighborhood shopping center with restaurants, a grocery store, and more.
But the goals go beyond business.
“Our hope is that we create a commercial core here, bringing back five to seven hundred jobs,” Shuman said. “Lots of jobs for neighborhood kids at the grocery store or check-out counters. This is about opportunity, too.”
Local leaders agree. Jeremy Zaborowski, executive director of the Berks County Industrial Development Authority, says the site is well-positioned for long-term success.
“This site is attractive for many reasons. First, it’s in Reading, which has a great workforce. Second, it has strong infrastructure, utilities, water, sewer, power, and great road access,” Zaborowski said.