The City of Reading has launched the City of Reading Downtown Housing Development Grant Program (COR-DHD), a pilot grant program designed to support workforce housing development in downtown Reading.
The program will provide competitive grants to help eliminate cost-prohibitive barriers to converting or rehabilitating underutilized upper-floor spaces into housing. Reading currently faces a deficit of approximately 5,000 housing units, while many upper-floor retail spaces downtown remain vacant or underused due to a variety of cost prohibitive barriers.
Eligible properties must front the 200 through 500 blocks of Penn Street. Applicants may include for-profit entities, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals, but applicants must own the property for which funding is requested.
Grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 may be awarded for residential conversion and/or rehabilitation projects that address significant non-cosmetic deficiencies. Eligible uses include structural stabilization; major building systems; correction of life-safety hazards and code deficiencies; roofing and related drainage systems; heating and cooling infrastructure; and fire protection systems.
Mayor Eddie Morán said the program reflects the City’s focus on bringing more housing downtown and putting vacant space back into use.
“This program helps us tackle a real need in our city while bringing new life to underused spaces downtown,” said Eddie Morán. “It’s about turning vacancies into homes, supporting our property owners, and continuing the momentum on Penn Street and in our downtown.” Applications received now through July 3 will be considered.
The application is available online at: https://www.readingpa.gov/downtown-housing-development-grant-program-application
For more information, email DowntownHousingProgram@ReadingPA.gov or call 610-655-6253.
