Another project for Wake Forest’s downtown Renaissance Area will be the subject of a joint public hearing before the Wake Forest Planning and Town boards Tuesday, Feb. 4, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in town hall. Wake Forest resident Mark Iafrate, president of Franklin Street Apartments, proposes to build 108 apartment units on 6.63 acres in the northeast quadrant of the N.C. 98 bypass (Dr. Calvin Jones Highway) and South Franklin Street. He is planning five dwelling buildings plus a clubhouse with an outdoor pool. The only entrance would be on Franklin Street toward the north side of the property that will align with Yellow Poplar Avenue. To the west of the property is a creek, Spring Branch, which would be protected by 50-foot Neuse River buffers, and a wooded area. Homes in the Deacons Ridge subdivision back up to that wooded area. There is another wooded area north of the

The Town of Wake Forest will showcase downtown Wake Forest and the new Wake Forest Renaissance Centre on Saturday, March 1, during the Wake Forest Mardi Gras Street Festival & Renaissance Ball.  Emceed by local DJ Brian Pate, the Mardi Gras Street Festival promises fun-filled activities for both children and adults, including face painters, strolling entertainers, free horse and carriage rides, live music, an inflatable playground, special contests and much more.  One of the event’s highlights promises to be the Mardi Gras Walking Parade. The lineup will begin at 12:45 p.m. in town hall’s Centennial Plaza, 301 S. Brooks St., and the parade gets underway at 1 p.m. The parade route will extend from town hall, up East Owen Avenue, and north along South White Street before ending at the Depot Parking Lot, 110 S. White St.  The walking parade is open to both children and adults. No pre-registration is