By all counts, Reading is well on its way to an historic period of revitalization and prosperity. With tens of millions in private funding coming into the city for various development projects, the city's population and economy are on the rise.
It might have begun with The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, a community art and cultural resource center founded in 2003 in a former safety goggles factory. Since GoggleWorks opened, downtown has been flush with new projects: luxury apartments, a 10-screen Imax theater and a $56 million hotel and conference center--just to name a few.
By: Brad Bower, 4/9/2009
The Berks Jazz Fest wrapped up ten intense days of music on Sunday, and Keystone Edge was there for the madness. From March 27 to April 5, Reading played host to one of the largest jazz festivals in the country, featuring jazz luminaries like Gerald Veasley, David Benoit, Phoebe Snow and Bela Fleck. Check out our slideshow.
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By: John Davidson, 2/5/2009
The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts has been a catalyst for the revitalization of Reading's downtown since it opened in the fall of 2005. We spoke with Executive Director Diane LaBelle about how a cluster of abandoned industrial buildings became a first-class arts and cultural center.
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By: Marty Levine, 11/20/2008
Cities across the Commonwealth are working hard to re-make their
downtowns in the hope that a thriving center of mixed-use developments
and cultural amenities is the key to a sustainable future.
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