The Station Project is a seven-story tall modern apartment building proposed to be set in downtown Gettysburg. It would be perfectly appropriate in a big city, or somewhere along the Beltway. But Gettysburg thrives today based on two fundamental qualities: it is historical, and it is quaint. This is Gettysburg’s brand, what it’s famous for. The Station Project is neither historical nor quaint. It’s big, it’s contemporary, and it will stand out as a gaping contradiction to the core appeal of Gettysburg.
Put this way, why would we ever consider allowing this ill fitting structure in the heart of our town? Will it substantially lower taxes? The answer is No: the Borough estimates it will generate only $140,000 in increased revenue. At that rate it would save the average household roughly $60 per year, and that assumes the project incurs no extra costs to the Borough. Do we need more housing within the Borough? Again, the answer is No: the housing density is already well above the national average, and there are a number of new housing projects underway within a few miles of town which will likely produce a surplus. Do we need the additional traffic the project would generate? No.
And what about the admirable goal of adding affordable housing? Contrary to public belief, there are currently no plans for any affordable housing units within the project. All apartments will be offered at “market rate,” according to the developer’s own website.
The project will negatively impact the visitor experience of the National Military Park. Superintendent Heister, in a letter to the Borough, writes “The introduction of this intrusive visual element to the landscape will diminish the integrity of the significant historic features within the Park, the larger battlefield historic district, and within the Gettysburg Historic District.” The Battle defines Gettysburg as deeply as any community in the nation is defined. Can it in any way be considered wise to compromise our legacy and go against our own National Park for the sake of this apartment building?
The recently submitted project plan calls for the demolition and removal of the Transit Center, a structure funded by taxes and carefully designed to be in keeping with the architecture and character of Gettysburg. Instead, modern apartments will front on Carlisle Street. And the Transit Center’s proposed replacement? A canopy on Stratton Street, with no public bathrooms. Again, what on earth are we thinking?
The project, proposed by an out-of-state developer with no stake in Gettysburg’s past or future, is certainly more likely to repel tourists than to attract them.
A far better use of the vacant lot on Carlisle would be as a park, where tourists and locals alike could enjoy the fresh air, walk their dogs/kids, or just find a bench and relax. There could be outdoor concerts, festivals, and many other attractive activities that wouldn’t require disrupting traffic and blocking off the streets, as we do now. This would be a positive addition to our town, rather than the permanent blemish of the Station Project.
People of Gettysburg, let’s find a way to stop it. Attend meetings of the Borough governance, including the Borough Council, Planning Commission, HARB…. and make your voices heard. The project plan is currently being reviewed by the Planning Commission and that’s where your impact can best be felt right now. If you wish to help financially, search GoFundMe, then “Save Historic Gettysburg.” A Facebook page of the same name is a resource for additional information.
Some say Gettysburg needs to grow, indeed even to modernize. Perhaps, to some extent. But as we move forward as a community, preservation of our precious heritage and iconic status should remain an essential goal for the future of Gettysburg, for our heritage is fundamental to what we are.
The Station Project is not a done deal.