Penn State Health has signed an agreement to sell its Penn State Health St. Joseph downtown properties, 640 Walnut St. and 145 N. 6th St. in Reading, to Shuman Development Group, a locally based real estate developer. Following the sale, which is expected to close in October, Penn State Health will become a tenant in the buildings.
None of the Penn State Health practices or services offered at the St. Joseph Downtown Campus will be affected by the sale. Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern Pennsylvania will also remain at its North 6th Street location.
“As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph, we remain committed to providing the residents of downtown Reading with excellent, compassionate, culturally responsive and equitable care,” said Joseph Frank, hospital president for Penn State Health East Region. “Selling our downtown properties lets us get out of commercial property management so we can focus fully on meeting the diverse health care needs of our patients.”
Penn State Health providers and practices currently at the 6th Street location include Penn State Health Family and Community Medicine, staffed by attending physicians, resident physicians, and a team of nurses and medical assistants providing primary care services including family medicine, pediatrics, gynecology and geriatrics; gastroenterology; urology; podiatry; and dental services. Additionally, laboratory and imaging services and a fruit and vegetable prescription program (Veggie Rx) are offered there. The Walnut Street location houses Penn State Health’s diabetes management program and physical therapy.
“This is more than a real estate transaction for the downtown community,” said Alan Shuman, president of Shuman Development Group. “This is an investment in Reading’s future. Penn State Health and Haven Behavioral Hospital will continue to provide the critically important health care services our community needs and deserves. And my team will infuse upgrades and other elements to the buildings, contributing to the revitalization of the downtown area.”
Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern Pennsylvania, an acute care behavioral health hospital, is housed on the third floor of the North 6th Street property. Shuman said that the hospital will sign a long-term lease to remain in its current location.
“We are honored to serve and care for patients in downtown Reading now and long into the future,” said Kady Schane, chief executive officer of Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern Pennsylvania. “Like Penn State Health, we are fully committed to improving the health and well-being of the community and look forward to seeing the enhancements Shuman Development Group will bring to our hospital and downtown Reading.”
