PLATTSBURGH — Phase two of the Battlefield Memorial Gateway is on pause after the Town of Plattsburgh did not receive any construction bids during the most recent solicitation period.
The pause is not entirely unexpected given the ever-evolving challenges in today’s construction landscape, the town said in a news release Monday.
“As we approached this next phase, we recognized a variety of dynamic factors to mobilizing construction. From product costs, tariffs, and broader economic volatility could present obstacles,” Town Supervisor Michael S. Cashman said.
“Unfortunately, those factors have converged in a way with no bids.”
BMG
The Battlefield Memorial Gateway, a multi-phase project, is a public-private partnership between the Town of Plattsburgh and the Clinton County American Legion.
The plan is to honor the region’s military history, with a special focus on the enduring legacy of veterans and service members. Designed as a place of education, honor, and reflection, the BMG is located off Route 9 on the shores of Lake Champlain just south of the City of Plattsburgh.
It is envisioned as a signature destination in the North Country, one that connects local stories to the national identity.
The project first launched in 2017 and it was planned to be rolled out in phases.
Phase one of the project established foundational elements of the site, including grading, baseline infrastructure, and the Purple Heart Trail. Phase two was poised to elevate the project with the creation of its signature feature: the Remembrance Plaza.
This space is designed to be the emotional and ceremonial heart of the Gateway.
Phase three will encompass construction on the waterfront and the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base jetties.
NOT NORMAL
Last month, Cashman announced the town’s intent to send out bids for the project in May but remained cautious due to the Trump Administration’s proposed tariffs and the uncertainty surrounding them. Cashman said at the time, it was realistic they may get back some bids they could not afford.
Not getting any bids back at all, however, is a reflection of the current times and is not normal, he said.
“We knew that it could be hard for some of the companies to even put some bids together, because the cost structure could be in such fluctuation,” Cashman said.
“We had anticipated that this could happen, and here we are. But the thing that is concerning, in addition to not only not receiving bids, it is very likely that the cost of the production once we are able to get shovels in the ground is that those products will probably cost more in the weeks and months ahead.”
Cashman said it’s not clear when they will be able to send bids out again but he is anticipating some time in the fall. That would push a construction start date into 2026.
“We’re evaluating it, and we’re going to make some determinations in probably the next couple of months,” he said.
“It is very unlikely that we will put out the bids immediately. There’s a lot of other projects that we’re working on, and we need to make sure that we’re responsive to the project itself.”
TIMELINE
While the lack of bids will pause the current project timeline, town officials remain steadfast in their commitment to seeing the Battlefield Memorial Gateway completed.
“This is disappointing for sure,” Cashman said.
“But we made tremendous progress on this project overall. We’re regrouping, reassessing, and will explore all possible avenues to move forward.”
This latest challenge could have a compounding effect as the nation moves toward the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026, a historical milestone that gives the project even greater significance.
“The reality is that some dimensions of this project are out of our control,” said Cashman.
“We faced strong headwinds during COVID-19 that delayed Phase one construction and overcame them. This is another headwind and we intend to overcome this, too. The determination to honor our veterans, to tell the North Country’s stories, and to underscore our region’s place in the American narrative remains unshaken. Even if it takes us longer than planned, we forge ahead.”
The town held out hopes Phase two would be completed by October of 2026 to align with the Battle of Valcour anniversary. While this development may hurt those plans, Cashman said he is not ruling out the possibility Phase two could still be done by the town’s original timeline.
However, the town may need some help. The full cost of the project will be around $6 million and Cashman said they have spent upwards of approximately $2 million so far.
“There’s still many months ahead of us and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
“But, we are taking this as an opportunity to call upon the public to join us in continuing to raise money for the project, because costs aren’t going to shrink, and we need assistance.”