GOSHEN — The plan to revitalize Goshen’s unique industrial and residential stretch of Ninth Street was given the green light Tuesday afternoon at the November meeting of the Redevelopment Commission.

The plan includes eight projects the city will look at in order to provide what it describes as “A resilient and sustainable 21st century, mixed-use business corridor that acts as an economic engine, driver for urban revitalization and hub of connectivity.”

Planners believe the current and future use of the area to address the needs of environmental remediation and integration with its neighboring residential area are vital to the survival and success of the corridor.

The introduction to the plan notes that while the corridor still functions industrially, it has grown tired over the years, “saddled with a legacy of intense industrial use.”

Projects could range from a comprehensive brownfield cleanup and truck route definition and improvement plan, to a greenway along the route and redevelopment of catalyst sites, such as the Western Rubber site, and pedestrian and bike lane improvements.

The other potential projects would be a general revitalization of the west side of the street, creating incentives and standards that would help business development (like creating a Tax Increment Finance District), and the possibility of a quiet zone and enhanced safety measures along the railway.

Commission President Tom Stump voiced some concern that a quiet zone along that stretch might be premature, considering communities farther north along the route would be better served by quiet zones.

Becky Hershberger, the brownfield coordinator in the Community Development Department, said the Commission’s decision to approve the plan only gave the Department the go-ahead to explore the projects and did not mean any project was set in stone yet.

To view a full copy of the plan visit goshenindiana.org/content/redevelopment.