Penn State Health selling its downtown Reading properties
Aug. 16—Officials from Penn State Health St. Joseph hospital announced Wednesday that the organization is selling its two downtown Reading properties, but they stressed the services offered there will not be impacted.
In a statement, hospital officials said properties at 640 Walnut St. and 145 N. Sixth St. are being sold to Shuman Development Group. The Walnut Street property was the former Community General Hospital, which St. Joseph acquired in 1997 after Community General closed.
The sale of the properties is expected to close in December. Penn State Health officials did not provide information on a sale price.
Following the sale, Penn State Health will become a tenant in the buildings. That means the practices and services housed there will not be impacted, hospital officials said.
"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."
Like the Penn State Health services, Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern Pennsylvania will also remain at its North Sixth Street location.
Alan Shuman, president of Shuman Development Group, said his intention in buying the properties is to ensure that health services continue to be available in downtown Reading. He said he plans to undertake needed upgrades to the buildings.
"This is more than a real estate transaction for the downtown community," Shuman said. "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."
Penn State Health providers and practices currently at the Sixth Street location include Penn State Health Family and Community Medicine, which is staffed by attending physicians, resident physicians and a team of nurses and medical assistants. It provides 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 are offered there.
The Walnut Street location houses Penn State Health's diabetes management program and physical therapy.
Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern Pennsylvania is an acute care behavioral health hospital. It is on the third floor of the North Sixth Street property.
Shuman said the hospital will sign a long-term lease to remain in the downtown 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."
