Berks County · Reading · #49-13925
Twelfth & Marion Elementary
West side of North 12th Street, the east side of Locust Street, south of Perry Street, and north of Marion Street., Reading, PA · 15,283 sq ft non-residential, school · 2.4 acres
About this project
A preliminary plan in Reading to renovate an existing elementary school on a 2.4-acre site and add about 15,300 sq ft, including ground-floor parking.
Official description: Renovation of existing elementary school; building addition w/ ground floor parking (SqFt from 47,920.5 to 63,203.5 per Zoninf Table)
- Applicant
- Reading School District
- Developer
- Reading School District
- Engineer / designer
- Wilkinson Design Group, LLC
- Plan type
- Preliminary
- Land use
- School
- Water
- EX P
- Sewer
- EX P
- Status
- Reviewed
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
The Reading School District plans to renovate the existing 12th & Marion Elementary School and add about 15,300 square feet on a 2.4-acre block. The block is bounded by North 12th, Locust, Perry and Marion Streets. County records say the addition includes ground-floor parking.
News coverage describes a larger district project. It reports a roughly $41 million renovation and addition, with new classrooms and a standalone cafeteria meant to replace aging modular classroom units. The district's zoning request said the expanded building would cover about 60% of the lot, above the 50% the residential zoning normally allows. The sources do not say how that request turned out, and the figures in the news and in the county filing may not describe the same phase. Bid listings show contractor bidding for the school work in early 2026.
What it could mean nearby
- Ground-floor parking in the addition suggests the district is trying to handle parking on the small site, but no traffic study was found.
- The building would cover more of the lot, leaving less open ground on a tight city block.
- The school is an existing public elementary school, so the project updates its facilities rather than adding a new use to the neighborhood.
- Construction would likely bring noise and truck traffic to the surrounding streets while work is underway.
Where it stands
The county's latest filing (September 2025) is a preliminary plan, an early stage of land development review. Next usually come a final plan approval, building permits and construction, and bid listings suggest the work was moving toward construction in 2026. Current construction status was not confirmed.
- Sep 2025 Latest county filing for the preliminary plan
Want to weigh in? The City of Reading Planning Commission reviews land development plans at public meetings, and the Reading School District board meets publicly; residents can check their agendas for comment opportunities.
Who's behind it
Reading School District · A public school district serving the city of Reading, Berks County; Wilkinson Design Group is listed as a firm on the filing.
Around the web
- Reading School District holds public hearing on $41M elementary school projectWFMZDescribes a roughly $41 million renovation and addition at 12th & Marion Elementary.
- RSD seeks zoning relief to construct addition to 12th and Marion Elementary SchoolWFMZThe district sought zoning relief because the addition would raise building coverage to about 60%.
- Reading planners OK preliminary plan for elementary school expansionWFMZReports city planners approved a conditional preliminary plan for a 15,283 sq ft addition.
- 12th & Marion Elementary School Additions and Renovations bid listingConstructConnectShows contractor bidding for the school's additions and renovations.
Planning terms explained
- Preliminary plan
- An early-stage site plan that the municipality reviews before a final plan is approved.
- Land development
- Building or expanding a structure on a site in a way that requires formal municipal review.
- Building coverage
- The share of a lot that is covered by buildings.
- Dimensional variance
- Permission from a zoning board to exceed a size limit, such as building coverage.
- R-3 district
- A residential zoning category with its own limits on building size and coverage.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $5.3M
- ~76 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~38 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)