Repairs underway at condemned West Reading apartment building
Jun. 18—Four months after the Franklin Manor Apartments building in West Reading was condemned and the tenants were forced to leave, the New Jersey-based owners are fixing the code violations and will likely reopen.
On Feb. 16, the borough padlocked the three-story apartment building at 400 Franklin St. after giving the owners numerous chances to bring the building up to code requirements. All the tenants were evicted.
The primary problems were a broken sewer pipe in the basement, a sinkhole in the front of the building and several structural deficiencies.
Jack R. Gombach, borough council president, said the building will reopen as soon as it is brought up to the borough's codes.
"I am really hoping they stay in compliance," Gombach said. "It's an historic building, and it means a lot to this community."
Built in 1922 as the West Reading High School, Franklin Manor was renovated and converted into an apartment building in the 1980s. The building has 39 apartment units.
Gombach said the renovations have started and appear to be going well.
Bill Moffett, a representative for PF Franklin Manor LP, has been working with the borough codes department, the borough said.
Moffett could not immediately be reached for comment.
Codes officials said the building is being cleaned and carpeted.
After all the work is done, codes officials will inspect the building.
Jack Williams, executive director of the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness, said the agency has assisted the tenants in finding housing and all but one has found alternative housing.
Former tenant Naomi Hines, 39, said she and her three children are still staying in a local hotel. She is hopeful she will find affordable housing and employment.
If possible, she said she would eventually like to move back into Franklin Manor Apartments.
Williams said the agency has spent $8 million awarded through the American Rescue Plan to help with rentals during the pandemic.
