College Heights Community Council

                                           of

                                  Reading, PA

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Important Notice

for

College Heights Residents

   As many of you may have heard, the former Caum Home at 1711 Hampden Blvd was purchased by   Firetree, Ltd., through an affiliate not-for-profit corporation, Orange Stones Co.  Firetree provides drug and alcohol treatment and community reentry programs throughout Pennsylvania and in New York State, including until recently, a facility in Wernersville, PA.  We believe they plan on offering drug and alcohol treatment services at the 1711 Hampden Blvd. property, if allowed by City zoning regulations, although there have been unsubstantiated claims made on their behalf stating that it will be a personal care facility for the elderly.

The opening of a treatment center of this nature will impact our neighborhood in many ways, and it is important that we all understand how such a facility will change the way of life that we’ve enjoyed as we continue to live and raise our families here.  Some things to consider are:

• Is 1711 Hampden Blvd. zoned for such a facility?
• How would Firetree impact the safety of the neighborhood?
• How would Firetree’s presence impact property values?
• How much would traffic increase on our neighborhood streets?
• Where would Firetree employees, patients and their visitors’ park?

The College Heights Community Council is working to answer these, as well as many other questions surrounding this purchase and the future intentions of Firetree, Ltd. and its affiliates.

Please join us in protecting our neighborhood!  It is up to each and every one of us to become involved to ensure that the use of this property does not negatively impact our community.

Take Action!

• Place a “No Firetree” sign in your front yard, stating your concern about having such a facility in our neighborhood.  The signs are $5, and proceeds go towards the College Heights Legal Fund.

          → Call 610-375-3255 to order your "No Firetree" sign today!

• Join the College Heights Community Council by clicking here to download a form.

• Make a donation to the College Heights Community Council Legal Fund to help preserve the neighborhood and protect against such organizations moving into our community in the future by clicking here to download a form.