Why you should sign our petition...
Gettysburg is a special iconic community: its history, character, and heritage hold a powerful significance for hundreds of millions more nationally and internationally. There are proposals for changing the zoning in Gettysburg that will destroy the historic nature of our town. First, the Borough Council is ready to approve a 72-foot building (about six stories) in this town. And, the Borough Council is considering approving "modern" architectural designs that are not in keeping with the historic character of the town.
Gettysburg also is a diverse community that needs to offer services and opportunities to its residents for better quality of life, new jobs, further growth, and prosperity. The twin needs of preservation and development should not be in conflict - and won’t be unless Gettysburg itself drops the ball and makes poor decisions allowing that to happen. Development here should be "smart development" – projects that are designed and built to be consistent with the character and heritage of Gettysburg: or even to enhance it.
As currently proposed the Station Project and the proposed zoning does not meet that standard. It is for us to take the lead now, beginning with the Station Project and continuing with rezoning proposals, to make decisions that ensure that development moves forward in ways that keeps Gettysburg unique and special. And we need your help! Please sign our petition!
How did this happen?
During the 1800s the 2+ acre “Gettysburg Station” site was home to hardware stores, lumberyards and other commercial uses that needed rail service to transport goods and materials. The station, built in 1858, was the western terminus for the rail service. Warehouses on North Stratton Street shipped farm products to Baltimore. Jubal Early’s troops burned some of the rail cars during their raid of June 1863. The area was the site of significant action during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Abraham Lincoln arrived at what is now the Lincoln Train Station the day before delivering the world famous Gettysburg Address. The station served as a field hospital, and 15,000 wounded soldiers were transported home via this rail line. The Lincoln Train Station is listed in the National Register Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District.
By the early 2000’s there were a few modest buildings on the North Stratton Street side of the site that housed the homeless shelter, and a books and antiques shop on Foth Alley. These buildings were demolished when commercial development on the site (the Reddi project) seemed like it was going to happen. An abandoned gas station faced Carlisle Street.
The York-Adams Transportation Authority received federal funding to raze the gas station and build a sheltered bus station, including the only handicap accessible public restrooms on Carlisle and Baltimore Streets. The Transit Station opened in 2013. Much care was taken by the community, particularly the Historic Architectural Review Board and the Borough Council, to make it architecturally compatible with the Lincoln Train Station. Potential future links to the vacant property behind it were shown on the site plan.
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