In a thankful display of dedication and potential, Wake Forest Downtown (WFD) hosted its annual Property Owners’ Luncheon, attracting over 100 Downtown supporters, at the Renaissance Centre for the Arts on Feb. 16, 2023.
Downtown Development Manager Jennifer Herbert delivered a compelling and comprehensive presentation focused on Downtown investment, new businesses that opened in the last two fiscal years, and numerous updates on new and ongoing commercial and residential development projects.
Down on White Street
Herbert explained that the new WFD logo unveiled in spring 2022 pays homage to history while also showcasing the Town’s vibrancy. The logo is patterned after the patterns of bricks found in some of Downtown's historic buildings, such as the one that houses Southern Suds on White Street.
Wake Forest has been a North Carolina Main Street Community since 2006 and a Main Street America Accredited Program since 2011, “a designation focused on a commitment to creating high-quality places and building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.”
The Town holds a host of Downtown events throughout the year, including Friday Night on White and Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kickoff. WFD hosts Forest Fest, Spirits of Wake Forest, Lighting of Wake Forest, and the Holiday Open House. Other regular events include the Saturday Farmers Market, HerbFest, Meet in the Street, Comicon, and the Artisan's Market. As if that weren't enough, and just to remind you how great it will be when you're there, Petula Clark's "Downtown" plays from the speakers mounted outside The Cotton Company every morning around 10.
In addition to the tens of thousands who attend these events, some 150,000 people have visited the Renaissance Centre since the venue opened in 2013. "It’s not only about quality artistic performances, but we’re an economic driver as well,” said Debbie Dunn, Renaissance Centre manager since 2019. “The arts are good business."
The Town is incredibly well positioned in the ratio of public to private investment occurring Downtown. For the fiscal year (FY) ending June 2022, the Town of Wake Forest contributed just $45,558 of public funds compared to private investments of $20,940,900. The public funds went to sidewalk and facade improvements, while private investments included the Loading Dock, the purchase of 303 E. Roosevelt Ave., and 150 N. White St. This includes the new “WAFO” mural affixed on panels to the side of UnWined on White adding to the unique aesthetics of Downtown.
New Business
Downtown saw a net increase of 108 full-time and 60 part-time employees in 2022. Those businesses that opened during the 2021-22 FY include White Street Boutique, The Loading Dock Wake Forest, Matt Baldwin Homes, American Liberty Mortgage, Vitzsie Boutique, Earthwise Pet & Grooming, and HighPark Nail Bar.
Those that opened to date in the current FY include Wake Pest, Jubilation Skincare & Massage, The White Street Market, Skinsational Esthetics, Firebox Theatre, Kyle Bobbitt, LLC, MOD Marketing, and West & Main Boutique.
Back to the Future
Page 158 Books owners Suzanne and Dave Lucey will soon move forward with an expansion of their space in the Renaissance Plaza into the space next door, creating a market cafe, listening room, and an expanded book and game selection. Broadside & Brews, owned by Joni and Bryan Falvey and located at 223 S. White St., plans to open in May, featuring a bookshop for the arts, a cafe and piano bar, beer, wine, cocktails, boozy ice cream, coffee, tea, and live performances. A bookshop for the arts is where instead of New York Times bestsellers, they’ll carry a selection of books on the performing and visual arts, scripts, sheet music, and monologues.
Jacob Anderson of Alliance Group North Carolina (AGNC) and Jackie Elek of Stanley Martin Homes (SMH) presented on the approximately 20,000sf food hall that will be developed in the former Chevrolet dealership on Roosevelt Avenue, along with a 2+ acre open green space. Elek unveiled elevations and floor plans for two new residential developments flanking the food hall and park.
Anderson’s group develops from here to Charlotte and teamed up with Stanley Martin for the residential aspects of the project. Founded in 1966, the company builds new homes in the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, and Florida. SMH built the highly popular Downtown townhomes at Retreat at Renaissance in 2018 and is nearing completion of the Magnolia Square condominiums at Wait Avenue and Franklin Street. Together with the Roosevelt Avenue food hall, scheduled to open in August – Thanksgiving at the latest – the North White Street development will encompass 10 acres bordering CVS, and the open green space will connect everything together.
Atlas Stark Holdings of Raleigh will create a second collective culinary space upon completing restoration of the 16,000sf warehouse located adjacent to The Loading Dock Wake Forest at 535 S. White St. Construction of Phase 2 of PowerHouse Row will soon commence at 424 S. White St. It will include an additional 13,000sf of new retail space on the ground level and approximately 47 apartment homes, including five penthouse units on a fifth level. For those wishing to live in close proximity to all these new food and beverage venues, other new downtown residential developments include Magnolia Square, Forest on Franklin, and an as yet unnamed development on North White Street.
Following an RFP process conducted by the Town on the former SunTrust Bank site at 353 S. White St., Triangle Real Estate Company was selected as the developer for this coveted corner and gateway to Downtown. The Town acquired this one-acre property in 2018 and partnered with the UNC School of Government Development Finance Initiative a year later. The site will be redeveloped as a mixed-use property, with 13,500 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and approximately 110 apartment homes above.
The Town will also purchase the Warren, Shackleford & Thomas parking lot next door, along with the adjacent parking area and building that currently houses Black & White Coffee Roasters, to allow for construction of a parking garage with 360 spaces, 180 of which will serve to increase public parking Downtown. Black & White will relocate to the Roosevelt Avenue food hall.
"We are grateful and thrilled with all the new development occurring and look forward to the many good things each will contribute to our historic yet vibrant Downtown," said Jason Cannon, President of the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership. "Thanks to fruitful partnerships between the Town and private development community, Wake Forest’s allure as a prime destination to live, work, and play only continues to grow.”
Ticket to Ride
Providing an update on the S-Line commuter and eventual high-speed rail stretching from Raleigh to Richmond, Mayor Vivian Jones took the podium to announce, "We're going to get another train station in Wake Forest."
With some 700 responses logged from the Town-wide transportation survey, restoration of commuter rail service was on the wish list and could be operational within eight years. Regarding the rail line's potential to reduce traffic, bring more visitors, and facilitate transit-oriented development around three proposed stations across Wake Forest, Mayor Jones said, "I'm excited about all the possibilities this offers."
Following a jam-packed agenda of exciting new growth and development underway Downtown, event emcee James Warren concluded, "There's been tremendous support by the Town government and Wake Forest Downtown for property owners. More people will be coming right by your doors in large numbers. Get ready.”
