A Berks County Court Judge has ruled that the Reading Fire Department would not be allowed to build a firehouse on property deeded to the city for recreational purposes. The fire department wanted to build a station on the grounds of the Schlegel Park in the 18th Ward. Officials planned to relocate two Engines to the station, Engine 14 from Park Avenue and Engine 5 from So. 5th and Laurel.
The City began the plan to build the firehouse several years ago but ran into a snag recently when officials discovered that the Schlegel family's gift of the land had one stipulation attached to it, that the property could only be used for recreational purposes.
According to an article posted recently in the Reading Eagle, the city’s director of public works said the firehouse would be built on less than an acre on the southeast side of the 15-acre park off Lancaster Avenue. He also said that area of the park is unsuited for recreational purposes.
The zoning issue was presented to a judge who ordered that the descendants of the Schlegel family be researched and polled on their thoughts before he would make his decision.
Reading Fire Chief William Rehr located a number of Schlegel descendents and letters were sent out to each one. About a dozen members of the family replied, the majority indicating that they approved with the plan. The Judge however ruled against the Fire Department. He gave no reason for his decision.
The City is now forced to find another location for the station and will have to shell out a considerable increase to buy open land or a property with a building on it that would need to be demolished. Another minus in that plan would be that the property would be removed from the tax base.
