By Justin Leighty, Truth Staff
GOSHEN -- Downtown Goshen embodies a mix of youthful entrepreneurs, niche businesses, established retailers, creativity, arts and entertainment. The enterprising blend is fueling a momentum that key players want to expand.
Those key players are primed for tonight's kickoff of the First Friday series of events showcasing what the area offers.
The recent past
"A lot of the buildings a decade ago were in disrepair. The paint was peeling off the windows, storefronts were empty," said Tom Stark, a local banker who serves on the city's redevelopment commission.
"The whole downtown had kind of gone through a lot of restoration that wasn't the best," said Dave Pottinger, whose family has done many renovations in the area. Pottinger and his wife are antique collectors.
"When you do that you get an appreciation for things of age, whether it be a table or a glass jar or a building," he said.
"Goshen, a few years ago, felt like it was about to go through a transition. We recognized there was a need and an opportunity," he said.
Pottinger sees the need and opportunity not just in buildings.
"It's a start," he said, but "we want to build community."
Public and private groups got together and began remaking the downtown's image.
Alongside longtime staples like Sorg Jewelers, Woldruff's Footwear, Snyder's Mens Shop, Newell's Ladies Apparel and John Hall's True Value Hardware, a new crop of businesses entered the picture -- a winery, New World Arts, a couple of restaurants and a Web design company. Then, the farmers market opened along the north end of the mill race.
"I think it's hard to pinpoint any one factor. I think it was just a lot of different people contributing in small ways and then people catching onto the vision of what can be and contributing themselves," said Eric Kanagy, president of Downtown Goshen Inc., a public-private partnership formed to promote downtown. "I really think it's evolved on its own."
A couple of months ago, a couple came to Stark, looking to lease a downtown storefront. "They ended up having to lease something smaller than they wanted because there wasn't anything. That's a good problem to have," Stark said.
Today
"There's just a lot of young, creative-class type of energy in Goshen," Gina Leichty said. She heads the First Friday program for Downtown Goshen Inc.
"That's really exciting to see that happening. That's what keeps people in a city, is having something to do," she said.
In addition to the businesses and performing arts venues, there are three artisans guilds with a few hundred participants, Pottinger said.
Kanagy said the area has a different feel.
"It just has a feel of a city on the go," he said. "It has a good feel to it, a very authentic, sort of real place that real stuff's going on."
When he grabs a cup of coffee at The Electric Brew, Kanagy said, "I overhear people talking about how they come downtown to shop and eat, and people are catching on to that. There's a freshness to it."
Several historic building-renovation projects are changing the city, too. The Spohn Building and the Shoots Building both should be done this year; LaCasa of Goshen recently finished updating The Hattle into attractive low-income housing.
Goshen Chamber of Commerce is working to hire a downtown director with funding from the city. That person will work almost full-time on promoting the city's downtown.
Developers continue to remodel historic buildings, adding apartments to second floors in an attempt to lure residents right downtown.
The future
"There's still a vision for continued growth downtown," Leichty said. "There's still the energy to make that happen."
Work to redevelop the mill race area for more housing will start to pick up in the next couple of years. Stark expects to see homes along the race in 2008 or 2009.
"They key is merchants being able to survive," Stark said. "If they can survive and flourish, I think the downtown will continue. You might even see more people coming in."
The city parks department is working on a proposal to lease the Goshen Auto Electric building from Pottinger for dance and fitness programs. The city council will have the final say, but the idea appeals to Pottinger. Those programs "will involve hundreds, if not thousands, in the community."
City and county officials will decide what happens when the jail moves out of Goshen.
The city wants to dress up Main Street and make it more amenable to downtown shopping.
Mayor Allan Kauffman expects the forward momentum to continue.
"I think five years from now, downtown is going to be more vibrant than it is today. I don't doubt that a bit."
Kanagy wants to make sure that happens.
"I think part of our challenge is to really lay out a vision for 20 years from now. Where do we think Goshen should be? It has come so far, but I think there's so much farther that we can go," Kanagy said.
He cautions city officials "can't just keep hoping that it'll evolve in the right direction. We have to define what we want that direction to be."
Goshen's on track to do that, Pottinger said.
"There's really sort of a general feeling, I think, that starts with the mayor and filters on down to the rest of us: Let's be careful, let's be thoughtful, let's have a plan and let's work together."