Gettysburg officials continue to plan and pursue funding for the long-awaited Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project.
An open meeting with Main Street Gettysburg executive officer Jill Sellers and about 25 local businesspeople on Tuesday morning focused on infrastructure updates, pedestrian-friendly designs, and potential adjustments to parking spaces.
The idea of revitalizing Baltimore Street has been years in the making. Sellers said local businesses began to discuss the issue a decade ago, saying “we need to do something about Baltimore Street.”
Sellers said over 80 people contributed at that time to a document that turned into the Baltimore St. Master Plan. “A lot of organizations and businesses invested in it. It was a costly endeavor,” she said.
Funding for the project has also been slow-moving. An $800,000 Federal Land Access Grant (FLAG) was secured for design, tied to connecting the Gettysburg National Cemetery with the historic Wills House. Additional contributions, including $500,000 from the borough and local businesses, have supplemented these funds. However, the federal grant money, awarded in 2020, is only being released now. “It’s a slow roll,” said Sellers.
The borough has again applied for a major federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to fund the redevelopment. If successful, Gettysburg will provide about $3 million in matching funds for the $17 million requested.
Officials anticipate an answer regarding BUILD grant funding this year, and caution that no new construction will begin before 2028 at the earliest.
The goal is to modernize Baltimore St. while preserving its historic feel. Plans include security device installations, safety enhancements, improved pedestrian access, and lighting. At least $4M of the money would go to much-needed underground infrastructure.
In addition to Baltimore St., the proposal includes changes to Lincoln Square, including potentially reducing the number of parking spaces. Sellers said the committee was considering issues of trash collection, deliveries, services, buses, accessibility, and passenger drop-off in the square.
Sellers asked whether rebuilding everything exactly as it is was the best use of funds. “If it’s going to cost us 4, or 8, or 10 parking spaces to leave something better? “I don’t want this to be a missed opportunity,” she said.
Sellers said the northwest corner of the square is significantly lower than the others, creating drainage concerns. Officials are considering long-term solutions that would ensure sustainable water management for the next century.
Sellers said future public meetings will be scheduled to involve residents and business owners in the planning process. Some merchants worry about the impact of lost parking spaces, while others see the project as a necessary evolution for the town.
“We have one of the most unique squares in the state,” said Sellers. “People naturally slow down for pedestrians at our crosswalks.”
The current redevelopment plan includes sketches and renderings, but nothing is finalized. The next step is a “field scoping view” with PennDOT, as Baltimore Street falls under state jurisdiction because it intersects with Route 30.
Officials acknowledge that the entire project, if completed in phases, could take up to 15 years. This would mean periodic construction disruptions but a gradual improvement of the town’s infrastructure.
“We’re far from having a baked-in design,” said Borough Engineer Chad Clabaugh. “This scoping phase is crucial because changes become harder to make later on.”
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.
Until you remove all the big trucks coming through the square, what’s the use? And if you aren’t worried about those 10 parking spots, you should be! Workers in the area, especially restaurants are dying and really struggling to survive. Parking prices are outrageous and most days cost people more money to park than they make at work, and the borough could care less about it’s community. They should all be ashamed.
Charles, I was chair of MSG during the planning, funding, and construction of Steinwehr Ave. Congrats on moving forward with Baltimore St project