KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene City Councilor Mitch Greenwald said he was “close to shocked” when no contractors submitted bids for Keene’s long-planned downtown reconstruction project, speaking Monday morning on Good Morning with Dan Mitchell on WKBK Radio.

Greenwald, who chairs the city’s Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure (MSFI) Committee, told listeners he was present at the bid opening alongside city staff, the downtown ombudsman, and reporters when officials confirmed that no proposals had been received.

The lack of bids comes despite weeks of outreach and revisions to the project. Greenwald said multiple contractors had shown interest, reviewed specifications, and attended pre-bid meetings. The city also adjusted the scope — including shifting some work to Public Works and modifying the construction timeline — in an effort to make the project more appealing.

Still, no firms ultimately submitted proposals.

Rising costs and timing concerns

During the interview, Greenwald pointed to several likely factors behind the outcome, including rising costs for fuel, asphalt, steel, and labor, as well as workforce availability for a specialized infrastructure job.

He also raised questions about timing, noting contractors may already have full schedules heading into the construction season.

To better understand what happened, Greenwald said he has asked the city’s purchasing office to contact contractors directly to gather feedback on why they chose not to bid.

“More than just streetscape”

Greenwald emphasized that the project is not primarily about aesthetics, but about critical underground infrastructure.

Much of the work involves aging water and sewer lines, laterals, and utilities beneath downtown streets — systems that are not always well documented and require careful excavation. Surface-level improvements, such as sidewalks and decorative elements, make up a smaller portion of the project.

He said the current plan reflects roughly four years of design work by city staff and consultants and has already been scaled back significantly.

Delays and hindsight

When asked whether postponing the project last year contributed to the current situation, Greenwald acknowledged that moving forward earlier might have put the city halfway through construction by now.

At the time, however, many downtown business owners had expressed concerns about the disruption and were not prepared financially or logistically for the project.

Greenwald noted that even a single water main break in the past has forced business closures and required emergency measures, underscoring the risks of further delay.

Avoiding a reactive approach

Greenwald warned against a “do nothing” scenario in which the city waits for infrastructure failures and responds as they occur.

While Keene maintains reserve funds within its water and sewer budgets for emergencies, he said relying solely on reactive repairs is not a sustainable long-term strategy.

Maintaining downtown infrastructure, he said, is essential to protecting the city’s core assets.

Can the project be cut further?

Although additional cost reductions are technically possible, Greenwald cautioned against stripping too much from the plan.

He described the current version as already “pretty bare bones,” adding that it would be a mistake to undergo a once-in-a-generation disruption without preserving features that contribute to downtown Keene’s character.

Some cost-saving measures — known as value engineering — have already been explored, including input from contractors reviewing portions of the design.

Short-term improvements and next steps

With construction unlikely to begin this summer, Greenwald said attention may shift to smaller-scale improvements downtown.

He suggested efforts such as repainting building exteriors, repairing brickwork, and adding planters, outdoor seating, and bike racks to enhance the area in the interim. He also encouraged property owners to take part in beautification efforts.

Looking ahead, Greenwald said the next MSFI Committee meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, will focus on key questions for city staff, including how Keene plans to handle future water and sewer failures and what a more proactive maintenance strategy should look like.

The radio segment concluded with a note that Keene’s mayor is expected to appear on the program next week for a regular update.

Listen to the full interview: