by Justin Leighty

GOSHEN -- The Goshen Redevelopment Commission got exactly one bid Tuesday for the River Race redevelopment project, largely due to the lousy economy.

Commission members expressed some enthusiasm about it, though, and it may be enough to get the long-planned project started by the end of the year.

The proposal came from All-American Building Systems, a division of Coachmen Industries.

"The level of excitement is high, but, I must tell you, cautiously optimistic," said Art Breitenstein, Coachmen vice president of sales and marketing. "We think you have a terrific opportunity down here -- at the worst time in the last 25 years," Breitenstein said.

However, he said the company thinks that when homes are ready for sale in three years, it might be a good time. The proposal itself makes the argument: "The time to prepare for a recovering housing market and the continued revitalization of downtown Goshen and the amazing River Race property is now."

The details:

* Coachmen would buy the land for just under $1 million, far less than the appraised value, but that's not a deal breaker.

* The 190 homes, a mix of carriage houses, townhomes and loft condos above retail space, would be located in three "villages:" Village on the Race, carriage homes at the south end between Douglas Street and Monroe Street; Village at the Old Stone Bridge, on the west side of the canal where the Goshen Street Department now sits; and Village at Mercantile Alley, the former Hawks furniture building, which would be redeveloped by LaCasa into housing and retail space.

* A riverfront park with a stage and amphitheater.

* Solar power would provide 50 to 60 percent of the electricity and would provide hot water for the homes, and Lucid Energy Technology water turbines could provide another 10 percent of the electricity.

* All roadways would use permeable pavement to contain stormwater runoff, and all lighting would be low-energy lighting.

* All homes will use "green" building techniques and materials.

The commission will review details of the proposal and could award a contract for the project at the March meeting.