Pictured is the the building that now houses Santander Bank at 601 Penn Street under construction in 1977. In the mid-late 70s, Penn Square and various other areas of downtown Reading went through an extensive urban renewal. Many of the historic buildings were torn down to make way for new office spaces to try and bring more corporate businesses to downtown. Notice the old Pomeroy’s Department Store on the left, about 16 years before it’s demise.