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Let’s keep Gettysburg special!

We all understand that Gettysburg is a special iconic community: its history, character, and heritage attract millions of visitors who are key to our economy – and hold a powerful significance for hundreds of millions more nationally and internationally.

Gettysburg’s reputational value is priceless!

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 does not meet that standard. There could be several reasons for that. Possibly the investors are not fully aware of the distinctive nature of Gettysburg, and therefore proposing a project that might make sense in other places but not here.

Whatever the reasons, the investors should have an opportunity to submit a project proposal more in keeping with Gettysburg’s character. That is where local knowledge, citizens, and Gettysburg officials can be most helpful, guiding them through that process in ways that preserve our brand identity. If we proceed in this way the Station Project could become a win/win and also set a positive precedent for future projects.

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.

The magic that is Gettysburg!

This week my organization, OPEN MINDS, played host to 300+ health care executives at our annual OPEN MINDS Executive Leadership Retreat. First, I want to thank all the folks in town who made this week-long event possible. Great food at our restaurants, wonderful battlefield guides, talented local artists, interesting shops, and unique museums.

But I am concerned about where our town – our Borough Council and the Borough planning commission– are headed. The reason my customer executives come here was summed up by one of this week’s guests from California (a first-time visitor to our fair city). “I can’t believe what a beautiful town this is. It’s like stepping back in time – like nothing else in America.”

I am appealing to the officials in our town who are the brink of making decisions that will destroy our brand – and our economic engine. Say no to tall buildings and modern architecture. Those changes will make us like anywhere else – and end the magic that is Gettysburg.

This project is an abomination of money greed and it will not turn out in Gettysburg ‘s favor in the long run. It seems to be the intent of the project to add to the already overkill of non-owner occupied housing which could turn out to be a high rise slum with potential harm to the safety and well being of the citizens of our great community. We pray Gettysburg Borough Officials will see the light and use common sense and see to it that the project never gets off the drawing board!

I am born and raised in Trenton, NJ The Turning Point of the Revolution! But you’d never know it. We have the Old Barracks, the 2nd oldest continually working State House in the country! We had beautiful brownstones on State St are offices, the numerous large houses on Greenwoood Ave, to name a few, that have been turned into multi-family apts nearly 50 yrs ago. We are blessed to still have William Trent’s House but if you could see the monstrous eyesore that overshadows it that was built on the early 1980’s, it is horrrendous. Don’t let this happen to an historic treasure like Gettysburg. Our family has visited and enjoyed the history and beauty of Adams County too many times to mention in the past 35 years. My Great-Great Grandfather was with 58th NY wounded at Chancelorsville and Gettysburg.

As an outsider, it was hard for me to tell the buildings that are historic to the 1863 time. There seem to be some buildings already there that are definitely not of the period. If I ever get to Gettysburg, I would like to see it like it was, as much as possible, during the battle and subsequent Lincoln visit. I think you should keep the historic concept alive.

Gettysburg is one of the most important historical and significant locations in the United States of America. This was where the Union was saved and Abraham Lincoln spoke in one of the most thoughtful and compelling speeches ever given. It is too important and necessary for the town to be preserved because it is part of the battlefield where so many soldiers gave their all and where so many civilians dealt with aftermath for years. We owe it to their memory, work, sacrifices and suffering not to detract from the honor and value of this site by building large intrusive structures.

Gettysburg is important in American history. Gettysburg in the east, as well as Vicksburg in the west were the turning points in the American Civil War. I am a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War as well as a member of the American Battle Trust. My Great Grand Uncle Pvt. Anthony Myers was a Scout in Co. K, 17th Pa. Cavalry at Gettysburg. Twice when a Casino was proposed to be opened near Gettysburg, it was defeated both times. Gettysburg is one of those places you step back in time. 51,000 casualties over the course of 3 days is something to never be forgotten. Let’s keep Gettysburg protected, and forever preserved so that future generations will be able to see what we see today.

I’ve just heard that the board passed the proposal Friday evening. My wife and I just retired and moved here. Because it was GETTYSBURG. Not a extension of Philly or Harrisburg or Pittsburgh. So, next will come the Trader Joe’s and such. Now I have to say Goodbye Gettysburg. You have lost your charm and 2 residents in less than a year.

HARB 11/20/2024 meeting, broadcast by private donations, because Council refuses to do so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlWxxWIsufc

First part is carefully prepared public comment by citizens, then HARB deliberations that talked as much about economic conditions at the College and Seminary as items in HARB purview. At minute 2:19:21 on the video, after the public had left except for cameraman, reporter, and one comment.er, the HARB members launched into the potential motives for those who are against the project (until reminded they were on TV), followed by a vitriolic public comment by a former council president. The second round of Station Project discussion was not on the agenda. One member tried to backtrack when she realized she was on TV. This is not good government.

There was an exemption made for the height of the Gettysburg Hotel and now another exemption is being proposed! When will it end? Who will finally say NO?Tall congested buildings cast shadows and block the skyline to those below.
Where is HARB? I remember years ago they disagreed with an aluminum storm door someone on York St wanted to put on an historic home. They stopped it. Window size and materials for roofs have been monitored. They have to set standards and rules and stick by them! It’s sometimes unpopular, and more expensive, but I do hope they aren’t giving into outside influence or local financial pressures. Something doesn’t seem right…..I live in a house overlooking the Visitor Center and fields of battle built in 1744 and I’m watching the sun set always keeping preservation in mind.

I am a retired LtCol, USAF, and I have been visiting Gettysgurg,PA and the battlefield ever sine I was traveling to the Pentagon, Washington D.C., while TDY, in the mid-1980’s. I visited the battleground and memorials every year through the mid 1990’s before so many enhancements and improvements were made. I have taken my ENTIRE family to visit the town of Gettysburg and the battleground. We memorialize the events at Gettysburg on the 150th anniversary of the battle on 1-3 July in 2013.
Things really got serious with our interest in the historic events in the town when my 9-yo grandson and I spent ‘sunup to sundown’ on the battleground, attending and listening to every ranger presentation and demonstration, at the exact place and time that every engagement took place 150-years earlier. It left a significant impact on both of us, as I am sure did on thousands of others. My grandson is graduating from university this year as a history major, focusing his studies on the Civil War and Gettysburg. He spends his summers and breaks from university, working at the Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers shop, and is now a fully committed Civil War reenactor with numerous engagements, including the last Gettysburg Anniversary, a dozen years after our landmark experience when he was nine. Now he spends his free time employed at the Daniel Little Farm, the historic Confederate Hospital site at the perimeter of the battlefield.
Since my daughter and her family moved to Mechanicsburg, PA (30 minutes away) about 10-years ago, I visit Gettysburg on a regular basis – Everytime I’m in town to visit her from our home in Nebraska. We have visited the Railroad Station more than a few times in our historic strolls through the famous and historic town of Gettysburg and continue to find new things when we visit and enjoy re-visiting the familiar places.
It would be VERY UNFORTUNATE to have such an eye-sore of a building design in such close proximity to the historic railroad station. Please find a compromise in the designed-appearance of the building going up at this location. Keep your city’s priorities straight ! Preserve the historic integrity and appearance of the theme of your thriving city, that would have NO other interest to our nation, were it not for the great, historic event of the namesake battle that occurred there. The city’s building codes and historic preservation committees need to come to an agreement in favor of ‘the historic interests’ of progress, and not some contractors idea of making a profit and walking away. There’s over 160-years of American History to consider here.