A New York Gem

An evolving manufacturing powerhouse with a community flare

Straddling the shores of America’s sixth-largest freshwater lake, just 60 miles south of Montreal, Plattsburgh has quietly transformed itself into one of New York’s most dynamic small towns. The town’s unique position has created opportunities that few American communities can match. “I arrived in Plattsburgh 26 years ago to attend university and absolutely fell in love with this region,” says Michael Cashman, Town Supervisor. “It has natural beauty, phenomenal individuals, and it’s a resilient community that has built itself into a very strong position.”

The numbers tell a compelling story. With over $800 million in annual retail sales and no town property tax, Plattsburgh has become the economic engine of New York’s North Country. More than 100 Quebec-based businesses operate in the area, employing 15% of the county workforce and generating over $2 billion in direct economic impact annually. “We’re very proud to be what we often refer to as Montreal’s U.S. suburb,” Cashman notes. “We have an intertwined cross-border relationship that not only builds the economy but brings an infusion of culture as well.”

Senior Planner Trevor Cole emphasizes the town’s strategic advantages beyond its proximity to Canada. “Being on the seventh or eighth largest freshwater lake in the country, it’s a tourist destination and the reason why people live here in the first place,” he explains. Lake Champlain’s world-class bass fishing tournaments draw competitors from around the globe, while the region’s Revolutionary War and War of 1812 history, including the decisive Battle of Plattsburgh, adds cultural depth to its natural assets.

Building a Human-Scale Town Center

Plattsburgh’s transformation is multifaceted. The town has embraced a comprehensive smart growth strategy that prioritizes walkability, mixed-use development, and human-scale design. “The town has focused heavily on smart growth in its town center, especially in the last five years,” explains Cole. “We’re enhancing livability, walkability, and bike safety, becoming much more human-oriented, not just in the town center but also with access to the waterfront.”

The approach points to a fundamental shift in how the community views development. Rather than sprawling outward, Plattsburgh concentrates growth where infrastructure already exists. “We’ve really taken a strong approach to each new development, focusing on how people interface with it and the equity of users,” Cole continues. “We’re mixing uses, including putting residential, retail, healthcare, and services all in proximity so someone can live a full and meaningful life within a short distance.”

Results are already visible. The town reviewed approximately 1.4 million square feet of development last year, valued at $54.5 million. New zoning regulations require sidewalks and encourage pedestrian-friendly design. The 2,000-acre town center hosts over 320 businesses and 5,000 jobs, processing 36,000 vehicle trips daily while working to reduce car dependency.

“Our focus has been looking inward and saying, how can we make this great for us so that we enjoy it so much that other people want to visit and come here as well,” Cole explains. The town received New York State’s Pro-Housing Community designation, unlocking access to $650 million in discretionary state funding for communities that demonstrate commitment to increasing housing supply and improving quality of life.

Waterfront Renaissance

For decades, Plattsburgh turned its back on 26 miles of pristine waterfront along Lake Champlain and the Saranac River. Today, a comprehensive revitalization plan is reconnecting the community with its most valuable natural asset. “The times have changed, and we realize that the waterfront should no longer be your backyard, it should be your front yard,” says Cole. “That’s been our approach for some years now.”

The waterfront plan identified five priority projects, with two already completed. In Morrisonville Hamlet, a new park provides handicap-accessible river access and serves as an official stop on the 700-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. The flagship development, however, is the Battlefield Memorial Gateway. “Phase one has been completed, phase two is underway,” Cashman explains. “It opens what we call the triangle of history, allowing folks to access the waterfront in this beautiful location that connects to the city of Plattsburgh’s Terry Gordon bike path.”

The site commemorates the Battle of Plattsburgh, where American forces defeated the British fleet on September 11, 1814, in what historians consider the most decisive engagement of the War of 1812. The victory helped secure favorable terms in the Treaty of Ghent and prevented British invasion via the Hudson River valley.

“Our goal is to develop this park to be both a destination for people who love history and a place to honor our veterans who have participated in all foreign and domestic wars,” Cashman notes. The project connects to the Empire State Trail, positioning Plattsburgh as a key stop for cyclists exploring New York. With views of historic Crab Island and Valcour Island, the development transforms previously limited public access into a regional attraction that celebrates natural beauty and national heritage.

Open for Business

Plattsburgh’s economic advantage starts with a simple fact: the town charges no property tax. Combined with strategic infrastructure investments and streamlined development processes, this creates an environment where businesses thrive. “Last year we did 444 building permits and reviewed approximately 1.4 million square feet of development valued at about $54.5 million,” Cashman reports. “We have legacy companies that have been with us for 40-plus years and new investments coming in every year.”

The municipality backs this growth with serious infrastructure commitment. Over the past several years, Plattsburgh invested $24 million in water and wastewater improvements. “Local government’s backbone is infrastructure,” Cashman emphasizes. “We continue to invest significantly not only to upgrade our infrastructure but to put new infrastructure in, allowing new veins of opportunity for manufacturing, hotels, and housing.”

Major employers have taken notice. Schluter Systems established its North American headquarters here, other titans companies are Norsk Titanium, Monaghan Medical Corporation, Medisca, BETA Technologies and Micro Bird and a growing cluster of 52 aerospace and transportation equipment manufacturers. The sector supports 8,500 well-paying jobs, one-third of the county’s total employment. “We serve as a footprint for many international businesses having their North American headquarters here,” Cashman notes.

Cole highlights the town’s comprehensive support system. “We have a fully staffed planning department and codes office that understands our regulations and meets regularly and early with projects to identify any roadblocks,” he explains. The town launched WeArePlattsburgh.com as a digital gateway for economic development, walking prospective businesses through the development process.

Partnerships with the Clinton County Industrial Development Agency and Adirondack Economic Development Corporation provide additional resources. “Investment in staff knowledge matters too; I was just in Denver at the National Planning Association Conference,” Cole adds, highlighting the town’s professional development focus.

Housing for a Growing Community

Plattsburgh’s recognition as one of New York’s first 20 Pro-Housing Communities is a nod to years of strategic planning and execution. The designation, which provides priority access to $650 million in state funding, validates the town’s aggressive approach to addressing the housing crisis. “The town of Plattsburgh was identified as a pro-housing community,” Cashman explains. “We actually became the first in the county and one of the first 20 in New York State recognized by Governor Kathy Hochul.”

The numbers demonstrate real progress. Over the past decade, Plattsburgh added more than 525 housing units, achieving the state’s growth benchmarks while many communities struggled. Now, a new initiative promises even more dramatic expansion. “We’re currently advancing a new law called CHAMP – Creating Housing Acceleration Measures for Plattsburgh,” Cashman says. “This new local law will provide the opportunity for 2,600 units of housing to potentially be built.”

Regional studies confirm the demand exists across all price points. “If people build an 80-unit apartment building, it’s going to be occupied,” Cole states. “If people build 25 single-family homes that are 2,000 square feet, there’s a need for those right now. You probably can’t build it fast enough.” The town hosted a housing symposium bringing together developers, realtors, and planners from six counties to address the shortage comprehensively.

Demographics support this growth trajectory. With a median age of 38 and 25% of residents between 20 and 34, Plattsburgh skews younger than most upstate communities. “Plattsburgh is young and poised for growth,” Cashman notes. “We’re trying to harness that and own our future. We plan the work and work the plan, this is all part of that.”

Tourism and Community Pride

Plattsburgh’s identity blends serious economic development with quirky local traditions that generate genuine community pride. The town’s signature culinary creation, the Michigan hot dog, exemplifies this unique character. Dating back to 1927, this local delicacy features a natural casing hot dog topped with special meat sauce, served “buried” or “unburied” under onions.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work to promote the town of Plattsburgh as the home of the Michigan hot dog,” Cashman says. “In fact, we’re working with UFirst Federal Credit Union and Dannemora Federal Credit Union to host the inaugural Michigan Fest this August at the Clinton County fairgrounds.”

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation awarded Plattsburgh a Hungry for History marker in 2022, officially recognizing Michigan’s cultural significance. July becomes Michigan Month, complete with a passport program encouraging visits to four iconic stands: Gus’ Red Hots, Ronnie’s Michigan Stand, Clare & Carl’s, and McSweeney’s.

“It’s created an abnormally high sense of local pride,” Cole observes. “Every year there’s a T-shirt contest and people get really into it. They become collectors’ items. People come to town hall for weeks to get these things.”

Beyond hot dogs, Plattsburgh targets sports tourism as an economic driver. The town proposed a 40,000-square-foot indoor sports facility for its downtown revitalization initiative. “We want to bring people into town center to use services, like going to our restaurants, the mall, staying in our hotels, and having a full experience of Plattsburgh,” Cole explains.

The town created “75 Things to Do in Plattsburgh,” a map highlighting attractions from apple orchards to beaches, deliberately ignoring boundaries between town and city. Annual events like Lake City Arts Fest and the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration draw thousands of visitors while strengthening community bonds.

Priorities for Plattsburgh’s Future

Plattsburgh’s leadership approaches the future with clear priorities and a continuous improvement philosophy. “I believe in lifelong learning,” Cashman states. “I’m a big believer that life should follow a model of listen, learn, and lead. By listening, learning, and leading, I’m also a big believer in recalibration. Sustaining things is as important as developing things. Keep what works, fix what doesn’t.”

The town’s immediate agenda focuses on three critical areas. “Our top priorities right now are housing, infrastructure, and continuing to promote and find partnerships for childcare,” Cashman explains. Cole adds a fourth dimension: quality of life. “We need to develop parks, bike paths, trails, waterfront development, and future investments in services that people enjoy,” he says. “We’re really trying to make Plattsburgh a healthy place.”

Infrastructure planning targets specific neighborhoods where housing development potential exists but requires utility upgrades. The recent completion of a new water supply system positions the town for expansion. Meanwhile, workforce development initiatives address employer needs. CV Tech’s new $40 million, 150,000-square-foot workforce center at the former county airport illustrates public-private collaboration yielding immediate results.

Cole finds particular satisfaction in seeing plans become reality. “The most rewarding part is taking time to develop plans with the community, putting them into work, and then seeing outcomes actually happen in my lifetime,” he reflects. “Watching projects being developed and used by people of all abilities, seeing housing built where we thought it would be most useful, that full arc from concept to completion is very rewarding.”

As Plattsburgh balances growth with sustainability, it offers a model for small cities navigating post-industrial transformation. By leveraging geographic advantages, investing in infrastructure, and maintaining authentic local character, this Lake Champlain community proves that strategic planning and community pride can create opportunity far beyond what population statistics might suggest.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Town of Plattsburgh, New York

What: A growing economic hub serving as “Montreal’s U.S. Suburb” with no town property tax, home to 52+ aerospace and transportation manufacturers, and designated Pro-Housing Community

Where: Clinton County, New York

Website: www.weareplattsburgh.com