The following HARB editorial is indicative of the controversy surrounding this project.
The long-awaited drawings for the Gettysburg Station project were unveiled at the July 17th HARB meeting. The developer’s architect presented modern style buildings appropriate for a suburban office park, and did not even attempt to use elements of design reflecting the historic look of Gettysburg. It is possible to build new structures and have them visually reflect the character of this unique small town. For example, the Wellspan building on South Washington Street, Four Square Church, Appalachian Brewing Company, and others, fit in. The Transit Station went through painstaking HARB review in 2013, matching windows, eaves brackets, materials, and other details of the adjacent Lincoln Train Station, recognized in the National Register of Historic Places. The Transit Station fits in and respects the character of downtown Gettysburg.
HARB said little about the appallingly inappropriate development designs, except to ask about lamps on the exterior. At least the materials for the North Stratton Street townhouses were recognized as “alien” to the surroundings. The developer spoke about how the use of fake brick and other less costly exterior materials would allow him to undertake the development.
At the same meeting, a Gettysburg property owner was grilled by HARB as his replacement of a minor railing and steps on Buford Avenue was put under a magnifying glass. HARB members opined that it needs spindles to look right, and asked what color he will paint it. One even asked if he could tear off the building addition entirely!
Ironically, the plan for the Transit Station is to raze the carefully designed building, opened in 2013, and replace it with three-story modern intrusions on the streetscape — to satisfy the developer’s desire to have frontage on Carlisle Street. To view the HARB meeting and the designs go to www.communitymedia.net/gov/gettysburg/7-17-2024-harb/
How can the Historic Architectural Review Board hold local owners to minute scrutiny, but let a Staten Island New York developer destroy the core of our historic town by letting him build such a monstrous departure from anything that respects Gettysburg? Mr. Harrison will return for more HARB review. Let’s hope HARB takes a closer look during the next opportunity, and heads off this massive and inappropriate building design that could have a permanent destructive impact on Gettysburg.