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 presented on July 17th, 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 HARB hold local owners to detailed and often expensive 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.
Susan Cipperly is a professional land use planner who has lived in Gettysburg for 25 years. She considers her involvement in local planning and zoning issues a way to contribute to the borough in general, and to maintain neighborhoods in particular.
I agree wholeheartedly with Sue’s opinion, based on her years of expertise as Town Manager in Emmitsburg. Also – is it absolutely too late to consider that lot the location of a new public library? and repurposing/renovating the Lutheran Seminary’s buildings into affordable housing units?
Absolutely correct! The boys are going to deliver downtown New York City to Gettysburg, in an effort to destroy the history.
This would NEVER happen in Williamsburg, Va. , where the history is being being preserved, not lost to money hungry Yorker architects who can’t see beyond 5th Ave. in Statue of Liberty land!
Get with it HARB! Remember, this is Gettysburg! A historical renouned venue made memorable by the visit of Gen. R. E. Lee and a few of his friends in 1863. Known world wide!
We do not need skyscrapers! We need history, even in building design!
When they are micro-managing something, the bigger picture gets lost. And the tax payers get the mismanagement costs. We need a borough council made up with some business people. Not the amateurs we have now. Time to wake up! PS The developer is playing the waiting game to save money with a project that does include items and quality we have already said we wanted.
Gee, I wonder how Disney and Hollywood manage to recreate accurate facades that mimic the time-period they want to portray? Guess developers have lost imagination when solely focused on their returns… and not locally held to a higher standard…
I was the construction manager for a large project in Disney World. Money was not the object and difficulty in completing this project. Getting the different factions to agree was a most difficult task. Do you know how many shades of yellow are on the market? Then after agreeing on which shade of yellow they want, lets introduce green. Ad nauseam.