The Reading Redevelopment Authority, acting in support of the Ricktown initiative, engaged K&KA to build on and reinforce the very positive investments that have been consolidated in this potentially vibrant gateway region of downtown. The Arts District analysis and planning study focuses attention on the blocks surrounding the GoggleWorks public parking area bordered by 2nd and 3rd Streets to the west and east, and Walnut and Washington Streets to the north and south. Ultimately, the study helps to establish goals for reinvestment and redevelopment through planning recommendations that emphasize an immediate and positive impact on the arts and neighborhood children.

The City of Reading Act 47 Recovery Plan incorporates a transformative housing strategy coauthored by governmental and planning consultants to the City’s Code and Planning Departments. The strategy seeks to attract residents at or above median income as homeowners or renters to stabilize the city’s affordable housing base and regain income diversity. The City is supporting this effort with vigorous property maintenance code enforcement, the removal of blighted properties, and emphasis on neighborhood redevelopment. The Ricktown Neighborhood Revitalization Master Plan was created in 2011 to address the largely residential areas to the north, west, and east of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts.

The Arts District Planning Study includes the creation of a detailed database identifying building data, site features, vehicular circulation, building characteristics, current use, and blighted properties. The work also evaluates that which may not be immediately evident, such as pedestrian movement, stable and troubling maintenance issues, strategically located properties, buildings of architectural significance, etc. The planning includes a conceptual design for a new 16,000 sf “white box” performing arts theater facility in concert with the restoration of a Second Empire style landmark as headquarters to local theater organizations. Planning also includes new multi-family residential structures that relate contextually to the massing and design of existing exemplary neighborhood row houses. Communication with partner organizations helped to further the cause of a unified vision. Active participants included: the City, local foundations, Reading Police, Reading Property Maintenance Inspection, Reading Area Community College, Our City Reading, Genesius Theatre, Reading Housing Authority, Lauer’s Park Elementary School, and property and business owners.