Village Hall

For most of its history, Goshen relied largely on its dairy farms to support its economy, and the community is focused now on trying to hold on to that rural character.

"Goshen is on the cusp.  It's still isolated, but there is a real demand for development up here," says Mayor Scott Wohl.

Although there are now less than 40 farms left, root vegetable production is still a part of the local economy, Wohl said.  But most Goshen farms have been sold for development, and "mega-Mansions" are being built.  Community meetings have been held to discuss strategies to protect the productivity of farmland.  Residents narrowly turned down a $10 million Open Space bond referendum, but will vote on a second bond later this year for half that amount.  In addition, the village and town have just purchased 56 acres of land and plan to turn it into what Town Supervisor Honey Bernstein described as a "smaller version of Central Park."  They recently lifted a two-year moratorium on development and instituted a zoning code, which requires 50 percent of all large developments to be reserved for open spaces.  Water woes, an old problem in Goshen, are also being addressed.

"The community is in transition," says Bernstein.  "There's a huge influx of New York City - type people moving in, but we also still have the old guard.  It's moving from rural to suburban, but we are trying to keep the local flavor."

However, retaining local flavor is getting more and more difficult.  Many natives are having trouble remaining in Goshen, because of rising real estate prices, says Mimi LaBurt, owner of one of the oldest hotels in the county, the Orange Inn on Main Street.  She rents rooms to the working class of Goshen who can't afford to live elsewhere in town, she said.  After more than 50 years, LaBurt is selling the place to retire, and worries about what will happen to her residents: "Goshen has changed immensely.  There are new homes and more people moving in.  It's becoming hip.  It used to be more country here.  I used to know everybody.  Now, no one knows my name.  It's kind of nice."

Many of the professionals who work in Goshen live in neighboring towns, LaBurt explains, so weekends are very quiet and laid back.  "Everybody disappears.  It's like a ghost town on weekends.  It's a lovely place, but it's tough to be in business."

Linda Clark, a broker associate at Thomas E. Griffith Realtors, says homes in Goshen are now selling from low $200,000 to over $1 million.  Rentals run upwards of $1,700 a month.  And according to Mayor Wohl, the town tax rate this year is $3.28 per $1,000 of property value.  There was no increase in village taxes.  However, the school tax went up 10 percent, which citizens complain about in the New Republican, the state's oldest weekly newspaper.  But high school student Meghan Toohey says the district is growing and maintains one of the best performing arts programs in the county.

Bernstein admits that the town is very protective of its schools and its children.  "We love our children.  The kids have a real sense of belonging here.  Plus you get all the advantages of the city, none of the disadvantages, and all the advantages of the country.  And you can't beat that."