Forestville townhouses lose again

Once again it was the traffic congestion on Rogers Road that decided the vote Tuesday night. The Wake Forest Planning Board voted five to four to reject the plan for 95 townhouses on the deadend section of Forestville Road even though they liked the plan. Back in December it was much the same story. The planning board was split five to three when the members voted to approve with conditions – no vinyl siding, no entrance to the street from an alley and no sidewalk on the south side of the street. The town board, after hearing Commissioner Brian Pate cite the traffic problems he sees daily, voted three to two to deny the rezoning and master plan. Both boards, planning and town, sat through the lengthy public hearing. The town commissioners have the project on their March 20 agenda and will make the final decision. The problem is that

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Two mysterious votes

Twice recently the Wake Forest commissioners and mayor, the town manager and the town attorney have held closed sessions “To establish, or to instruct the public body’s staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in negotiating (i) the price and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange, or lease; or (ii) the amount of compensation and other material terms of an employment contract or proposed employment contract.” The quote is from N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (5). Tuesday night the board came out of the very short closed session and unanimously agreed to two motions, both of which were to approve what they had agreed on in the closed session with no other information. We will, at some point, learn what those decisions are. But it does seem the

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Shark Tank, Wake Forest style

Inspired by the successful television show “Shark Tank” but called Accelerate Wake Forest, a group of local investors have announced a new initiative designed to stimulate entrepreneurship and business growth in Wake Forest. Area inventors and entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors in front of an invited audience. If an idea appeals to one or more of the investors, they will offer financial backing in exchange for a percentage of the business. After the event, any further details and negotiations between the investor and the entrepreneur to complete the deal will be confidential. “Accelerate Wake Forest has brought together a great group of investors.  We are active in the community, want to encourage economic development, and see this as a way of giving back.” said Deborah Bordeaux, a member of the investors panel for the event. Spearheaded by business owner Mike

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Work on Stadium Drive has begun

On Monday, March 5, crews for Fred Smith Company, the contractor chosen by the Town of Wake Forest to build the Stadium Drive Complete Street, began preliminary work, installing signs about the project, silt fences, tree protection fences and bringing in needed equipment. Extending from Capital Boulevard to North Wingate Street, the construction will improve traffic flow along with vehicle and pedestrian safety. The rebuilt street will have three lanes with curb and gutter, left turn lanes at intersections and driveways, a 10-foot multiuse path on the south side, a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side, wide striped shoulders on both sides, a pedestrian refuge island, high visibility crosswalks and ramps and accessible transit stops. There will be a large roundabout where Stadium meets Wingate Street as well as resurfacing on North Avenue. Town officials are coordinating with administrators at Wake Forest High School and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to

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Cougar Walk of Champions will be March 17

Area residents are invited to the Cougar Walk of Champions on Saturday, March 17, at 1 p.m. This family-friendly community celebration will honor the 2017 Wake Forest High School football team – winners of back-to-back 4AA state championships. The Cougar Walk of Champions will recognize the team for its consistency on the field, highlight the school’s place in the town’s history, and demonstrate the collective sense of pride shared by the Wake Forest community. A walking parade comprised of the WFHS football team and coaching staff, marching band and varsity cheerleading squad will kick off the afternoon’s festivities. The procession will depart the Depot Parking Lot, 110 S. White St., at 1 p.m., proceed south along South White Street, turn left at Owen Avenue, and conclude in Centennial Plaza at 301 Brooks St. The team will be greeted by members of the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners. The ensuing pep

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Just a little history: The Ford Building

Sometimes you can uncover a lot of history just by tracing the ownership and associated stories connected to just one building. It helps that Wake Forest has a long tradition of reusing, converting and renovating existing buildings. It also means that current owners and tenants are sometimes amazed or appalled by what they uncover when a water line leaks or the sewer backs up. This week we will look at what is called the Ford building on South White Street because it was built in 1927 as the first – and only – Ford dealership in downtown or the whole town. Today it houses the N.C. Society of Surveyors, Cawthorne Moss & Panciera, a land survey company, and Black & White Coffee. When it was built it had a showroom in front, a parts department behind the showroom and a garage that kept growing as owners added on to it

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Easter Eggstravaganza at Woodland Church

The Wake Forest community is invited to join the Woodland church family for our upcoming Easter Eggstravaganza! This event will take place on Saturday, March 31, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Woodland Baptist Church, 190 Woodland Church Road. Event festivities include outdoor inflatables, face painting, children’s story times, hot dog lunch, and of course, Easter Egg Hunts! Children ages 10 and younger will want to bring a basket for the Easter Egg hunt portion of the event. There will be staggered egg hunt times based upon age level of children. Children 11 and older are invited to attend with their family as well. Over 300 participated last year so pre-registration is encouraged for all who are planning to attend this event. You can visit http://bit.ly/WoodlandEggs to pre-register.  

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The Mad Hatter returns

Once again the Mad Hatter’s Tea & Garden Party will return to North Main Street and the Wake Forest Historical Museum with its traditional afternoon tea, garden and historic tours, a classic car show and sales of locally grown plants. The date is Saturday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will only need tickets for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, three separate seatings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where you will be delighted by the fine silver, English tea, finger sandwiches and sweets. The $20 tickets are available on line at www.wfgardenclub.org or Facebook at Wake Forest Garden Club. You can also purchase tickets at The Cotton Company, Ollie’s Café and Page 158 Books. On the day of the party, you can also buy tickets at the Wake Forest Garden Club tent for $25 as long as they are available. All the other events and activities

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Town permitted 86 new homes in January

The Wake Forest Inspections Department issued permits for 86 new homes in January, 74 single-family houses and 12 townhouses, as well as a Goodberry’s at 305 Capcom Avenue, a project by Focus Design Builders with fees of $18,563.55 and estimated value at $1,995,000. There were also pre-occupancy inspections for three businesses: Datatek Inc. at 112 Brooks Street, East West Diversified LLC at 5109 A Unicon Drive and RPM Media at 1780 Heritage Center Drive. Dan Ryan Builders was issued permits for six townhouses along Sweet Annie Way in the Stonegate subdivision, and Terramor Homes was issued permits for six townhouses on Brunello Drive in the Siena Townhomes subdivision on the Dr. Calvin Jones Highway (the NC 98 Bypass). The single-family lots are listed below by applicant, address, subdivision, stream basin, fees paid, square footage and estimated improvement value. *Prewitt Custom Homes, 1613 Main Divide Drive, Bowling Green, Smith Creek, $2,675.00,

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Parks and greenways get new signs

Wake Forest recently completed the installation of new wayfinding and entryway signage at several town-maintained parks and greenways. The installation completes the first phase of the town’s Wayfinding Plan for Parks and Greenways, which was designed to improve visitors’ experiences in Wake Forest by assisting them in reaching their desired destination. The plan also increases the visibility of the town’s parks and greenways system by emphasizing the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department’s brand and strengthening the community’s sense of place. Town officials identified the need to develop a wayfinding program as a part of its overall vision in both the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and Open Space & Greenways Plan. Wake Forest currently maintains 12 parks and 13 miles of greenway within the town limits and unincorporated areas. Through the use of 2014 Bond Referendum proceeds, Phase 1 signage was implemented at Smith Creek Greenway at Burlington Mills, Dunn Creek Greenway, Sanford Creek Greenway, Smith Creek

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