The creation of this estimated 58 million dollar Memorial is going to be a story to write about in itself! If you visit the National Park Service (NPS) web site you will find very few recently posted stories on the process of acquiring the necessary property. Nor will you find much at all about the impact this site will have on the local Boro and Townships that will be dealing with a ton of new issues!
Think Gettysburg, PA. Where once there were only fields and farms now there are cities traffic, hotels, restaurants, and many more visitors! Where do you begin? First try starting with land acquisition, permitting, water, sewer, utility lines, roads, building the structure, all in two and a half years! Talk about a honey do list!
Granted there will be phases but the list above contains the basic fundamentals. To begin with Svonavec's, the owners of the ground where Flight 93 was brought down have donated the immediate six acres. They own another 274 acres that appraisers are trying put a value on so that the courts (still unclear as to State or Federal!) may determine the price that will be paid.
You did read that right. The court will determine the price to be paid for 274 acres. Just how much is 274 acres worth? The Pittsburgh Post Gazette (1-18-09) quoted, "Svonavec said the corporation was previously offered $250,000 for the property, which they rejected because they believe the oil and gas rights alone are worth more." Much, much more.
Until the land is transferred there is an agreement that allows the NPS to have immediate access to the site to "conduct such activities as needed to plan and construct the memorial." Let's not even get into the "what ifs" regarding settlement on the ground! The goal is to have the first phase of memorial completed by September 11, 2011 the 10th anniversary.
Here's how our state support is going. According to the Somerset Daily American, (2/21/09) "Governer Rendell will ask the state legislature to pass a special bill for construction of an access road off of Route 30 and for improvements to the intersection. He will seek funding for the road work from the federal public land trust, but if it isn't received, he will fund it out of the state's budget. The estimated cost of the roadwork is $9.8 million."
We whole heartedly support this project yet are concerned of the impact of the sheer numbers of projected visitors to this very rural area. The new memorial is projected to have 1,900 vehicles passing through during the weekday with 4,200 on weekends!
As we continue to be watching for economic Good News for our state and local areas construction for this Memorial is on the fast track. In fact 5.475 Million is contained in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill. THAT MEANS JOBS! When it's all said and done the planned memorial will cover 2,231 acres! Even though there are details to work out yet (such as land ownership) work begins!
