Berks County · Reading · #49-13997
North Reading Plaza
North Side of Bern Street between North 3rd Street and Madison Avenue, Reading, PA · 168,177 sq ft non-residential, retail & commercial · 17.6 acres
About this project
A two-lot subdivision and land development on 17.6 acres on the north side of Bern Street in Reading would create a shopping center of about 168,000 sq ft across six buildings. The second lot, about 5.4 acres, would stay undeveloped.
Official description: 2-lot subdivision; Lot 2 5.39 acres no development, Lot 1 shopping center w/6 buildings:1w/10units, 2w/1unit, 2Ew/16units 3&4w/2 units ea., 5w/1 unit
- Applicant
- Glidden Development, LP
- Owner
- Berks County Industrial Development Authority
- Developer
- Shuman Development Group
- Engineer / designer
- Ludgate Engineering Corporation
- Plan type
- Preliminary Subdivision / Land Development
- Land use
- Commercial, Industrial
- Water
- Public
- Sewer
- Public
- Status
- Reviewed
Filing history
- 2026-09-14 · #49-13997 · Preliminary Subdivision / Land Development · 168,177 sq ft
The full picture AI research · Nov 2, 2026
North Reading Plaza would be a shopping center on the former Glidden paint factory site on Bern Street. The factory closed in 2007. County records describe about 168,000 square feet of retail and commercial space in six buildings on roughly 17.6 acres. News coverage gives slightly different figures, about 156,000 square feet on a 19.3-acre property. The plans may have changed between filings.
The land would be split into two lots. The shopping center would go on the larger lot. The second lot, about 5.4 acres, would stay undeveloped, and no plans have been submitted for it.
In August 2026 the city planning commission approved a preliminary plan. No tenants have been named in the coverage found. The six buildings are described only as a variety of retail uses.
What it could mean nearby
- Traffic and stormwater were open technical issues in city review, and a traffic impact study was required.
- The city waived several impact reports, citing earlier state environmental review of the site. It asked for a recreation impact fee in place of a full park review.
- The project would reuse a long-vacant industrial site with new retail space. The coverage found gave no job estimates.
Where it stands
The Reading Planning Commission gave preliminary land development approval in August 2026. The developer and the city's planning consultant are now revising the plan toward a final plan, and the amount of the recreation fee still has to be agreed. Final plan approval usually comes next, followed by permits and construction.
- Sep 2026 Latest county filing for the project
- Aug 25, 2026 Reading Planning Commission approved the preliminary land development plan and waived several reports
- Jul 28, 2026 Planning commission tabled the preliminary plan while traffic and stormwater issues were worked out
Want to weigh in? The Reading Planning Commission reviews the final plan, and its public meetings are where residents can comment. Check the City of Reading website for agendas.
Who's behind it
Shuman Development Group · Shuman Development Group is the developer on the filing, which also lists Glidden Development, LP. Ludgate Engineering Corporation is the engineer and the Berks County Industrial Development Authority is also named.
Around the web
- Reading commission OKs preliminary plans for proposed shopping complexWFMZ · Aug 25, 2026The planning commission approved the preliminary plan, waived several reports and left the plan to be revised toward a final version.
- Reading Planning Commission tables preliminary plan for North Reading Plaza shopping centerWFMZ · Jul 28, 2026The plan was tabled while traffic and stormwater issues were being worked out, and the developer needed preliminary approval to begin financing.
- New shopping center named at former Glidden paint siteWFMZThe shopping center was named North Reading Plaza and was still going through planning approvals.
- Reading zoners grant use for shopping complex on former Glidden propertyWFMZThe zoning hearing board granted zoning relief for the shopping center use, and a full land development review by the planning commission was still required.
Planning terms explained
- Land development plan
- A detailed site plan showing the buildings, parking, roads and drainage that a city reviews before allowing construction.
- Preliminary approval
- An early approval that lets the developer keep refining the plan and seek financing, but it is not permission to build.
- Subdivision
- Dividing one property into separate lots.
- Traffic impact study
- An analysis of how much added traffic a project would create and what road changes it might need.
- Recreation impact fee
- A payment from a developer to the city to help fund parks and recreation instead of building them on site.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 2, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $37.0M
- ~1,681 roofing squares (assumes 1 story)
- ~420 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)
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