The owner and developers of the long-vacant Wake Forest Rest Home on South Allen Road have been planning for 31 multi-family apartments in the old one-story building with seven apartments dedicated for seniors and perhaps two for affordable housing.
The 22 or 24 others, the developer told the Wake Forest Planning Board members, would be rented or leased to corporations who need housing for employees who would be in town briefly.
Enter Jennifer Rose, speaking for her family and Cardinal Hills neighbors and the town’s Community Plan. Both are against multi-family and strongly recommend senior housing for that area.
Rose told the planning board about the difficulties of finding appropriate care for her parents and her husband’s parents as they age, about wanting to have that care nearby. And there are other problems. “That road is tight,” she said, “only one car can get through. I don’t see how the road can handle it.” She also said many neighbors think it will be for seniors “because the town said it did not want (multifamily) apartments there.”
Others in the neighborhood backed her. Dietrich Koch said the developer’s plan was “not a bad plan but not in this neighborhood.”
The seven members of the planning board, who tend to pay attention to the town residents who speak to them, on Tuesday evening, May 14, unanimously approved the following made by Michael Almquist and seconded by Matt Davis. “Make a motion to approve case RZ-23-10 as it is generally consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and request the applicant seriously consider (1. defining age-protected housing at 62 and above exclusively (2. adding more age-protected housing units to the seven already commented, 80% of the available units (3. exclusively mid and long-term rentals a minimum of 3 months (4. enforce the penalty per unit.”
GWP Developers LLC out of Warrenton had a number of attractive points in its plan. They would keep and update the existing building, add a new parking lot, fences and walking trails, and improve their side of the narrow street and add a sidewalk.
When it was time for the board to discuss and perhaps settle on a recommendation for the town commissioners, most of the seven members questioned and discussed senior housing, age parameters, corporate leasing and the road. (The town is slated to upgrade the street.)
However, Karin Karupos, the chairman, suggested there be seven senior apartments and the rest corporate. “I like the idea of corporate (leasing) being so close to downtown and coworking.” She also said she liked the idea of reusing the building.
Michael Hurt with Robinhouse LLC Hurt LLC in Bath who spoke for the project is one of the property owners.
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