One of Michael Welton’s concerns in conversation with the Gazette editor this week was the possibility of North Hills-style four-story buildings in the Renaissance Area as the current update to the Renaissance Plan suggests, and even six-story buildings as the existing Unified Development Ordinance currently allows.
One alternative approach, Welton says, would be for Wake Forest to follow the precedent set by the Town of Davidson as outlined by David Schwartz, a lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill, who commented on the original N&O column: “The Davidson Land Plan is a wise document that creates a regulatory framework to enable the town to grow “after its own image.”
The first section of the Plan is titled “Purpose”: “The Land Plan recommends that growth occur in a manner that physically reinforces the character of the town; new neighborhoods will add to the town’s network of streets and match the pattern of development which makes town life special. This is an environment which fosters a sense of community through its attention to well defined and accessible public spaces.
“This vision requires that the Town of Davidson take a higher sense of responsibility for the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. . . each new building and development will be expected to supplement and match the existing built environment of Davidson.”
As said above, the Renaissance Plan is currently being updated and revised. There is an advisory committee and there will be a series of public hearings as the plan is developed.
If you also question, like Welton, having buildings as high as six stories along South White, Franklin, Elm, East Holding or Brooks outside the historic district, you can take your concerns to those hearings or you can express your concern to Mayor Vivian Jones (mayor@wakeforestnc.gov), Planning Director Chip Russell (crussell@wakeforestnc.gov), or by writing a letter to the Gazette or the Wake Forest Weekly.
(Town of Wake Forest images.)
5 Responses
Concur with Matt Hale. We have a lack of parking (now finally and it’s a good problem to have thank goodness), so we have to look at going vertical. Underground parking might help as new bldgs. develop. The current climate, and apparently going forward with the “Millennium” crowd, is to contain “lifestyle” in single setting, work, live, play. The next architectural movement is to contain all in a structure and to do so in most urban environment requires verticality, not horizontal as there simply is not enough space in the urban setting. We are fortunate in the Renaissance area to have more vacant land than the other 16 surround towns of Raleigh so we must maximize our advantages. We need to develop vertical in a manner to preserve the historic context and attraction of downtown Wake Forest. The market is dictating what it wants and what will sell. To go vertical versus no development, or vacant spaces is preferable to the alternatives. What we do not need to do is “social engineer” based on our “wants” rather than on customer demand.
Four to five to six stories does not preserve the historical context. It violates it, as well as the architectural context. No one said anything about no development of vacant spaces. The idea is to understand the nature and look and feel of downtown’s architecture and work pleasingly within its context. The North Hills look and massing is out of context.
I respectfully disagree with your assessment. If you want to “preserve the historic context and attraction of downtown Wake Forest”, you do NOT build vertically, you do not give up historic small town for “customer demand”, and you certainly do NOT base decisions on current demand. Doing any of these is short-sighted at best. It is okay to have a little town with some history, after all. I would challenge both you and Mr. Hale to visit Chapel Hill, Oberlin Rd in Raleigh, or even Hillsborough St. near NC State to see what you are advocating for real. It might just change your mind…
“Given high land prices and the high cost of construction in Wake County, developers must go up in order to offer market rate housing.”
I would suggest going up somewhere other than in town. Go ride through Chapel Hill (which is now allowing for taller buildings) and see what it is doing to a historic town. Then see how much it costs, regardless of “going up”, to live there. More units is just a way to make more money, nothing more.
Protect and preserve what you have and love as you will never get it back once it is gone.
Limiting the height of our village’s buildings – as well as their character and appearance – certainly reflects good intent, but an unfortunate side effect is few “regular folks” can afford to live in downtown Davidson. Given high land prices and the high cost of construction in Wake County, developers must go up in order to offer market rate housing. Otherwise it all becomes gentrified, luxury housing and the “regular folks” have to live way out in Franklin County. Wake Forest’s Downtown Historic Core (primarily White Street) is protected in the UDO, limiting new or redeveloped properties to 3 stories. Away from the core, our UDO allows 6 stories but building this high presents its own limitations, building code challenges and technical issues. You may not see many 6 story buildings, but you will certainly see 4 and 5. One effective strategy for affordable downtown housing is to include a few smaller units.