Owner seeks variance to operate eight‑room boarding house at renovated Perkiomen Avenue property

Counsel for McKay Holdings LLC told the Reading Zoning Hearing Board on March 11 that the owner seeks a use variance to continue a congregate, boarding‑house style use at 1216 Perkiomen Avenue and a variance from the off‑street parking requirement. Joan E. London said the building had a history as the Miller Personal Care Home and that the purchase included an eight‑room configuration with one efficiency apartment; she provided photographs and renovation documentation to the board.

London said renovations already completed include new flooring, fixtures, wrapped mattresses and fire‑safety improvements. "We're trying to improve sanitation in the property from what it was," she told the board, and counsel said the owner had installed a new fire alarm and was coordinating remaining work with an electrician and the fire marshal. A prototype lease provided to the board includes tenant screening (income and employment verification, criminal‑background and reference checks) and rules such as no smoking, no illegal activity, single‑occupant rooms and quiet hours.

On parking, counsel said the property historically had no off‑street parking and the applicant is exploring renting private spaces within 300 feet of the building. Michael Bickel, who was sworn and testified, said he is contacting owners of nearby lots and a self‑storage facility across the alley to identify rental options and that creation of new on‑site parking would be difficult because of lot configuration and steep grades. Board members suggested checking municipal park lots and nearby small streets such as Maitland Street; the applicant said he would follow up.

Zoning staff noted the property sits in a historic district and that any required building permits could require a certificate of appropriateness through historic preservation. The board closed testimony; the chair said a written decision will be mailed and rendered next month.