Shippensburg Borough Downtown Strategic Plan

Inspiration for the future of Shippensburg is drawn from the community fabric that is currently in place. Brick is a prominent feature in downtown architectural elements that will be replicated in other enhancements. Existing landmarks like Pague and Fegan Hardware or the Shippensburg Library serve as anchors for other downtown development as do natural landmarks like Branch Creek. As a community, Shippensburg has many opportunities that can position the downtown to be a destination for livability and a business and cultural center in southwest Cumberland County.

Shippensburg’s plan gathered strength from community members and grew from their input, combined with sound   planning principles. It is a road map to implementation that includes: infill housing options, adaptive reuse concepts, mixed-use redevelopment plans, streetscape enhancements, open space connections, and gateway improvements.

A challenge to the planning process was that locally, Shippensburg is drawing from the same regional trade area as other peer communities such as Chambersburg, Gettysburg, Waynesboro, and Carlisle. The spending patterns in this region exceed the national average in many categories, so the local markets are competing for the same consumers. Creating a development-ready environment was a way to differentiate Shippensburg and became a critical step in recruiting and retaining business.