Downtown Plan Open House

“We are not a city! No buildings higher than 3 stories.”
“Affordable housing? What % is affordable housing?”
“Concerned that wrapped parking decks will result in super blocks of buildings without wall breaks and pedestrian cut-throughs. Consider building length maximums and/or pockets for gathering.”

“Pathway with outdoor seating for pedestrians.”
“Dumpsters (trash and recycling) for these businesses. Should be a top priority.”
“This will absolutely ruin our small town feel. I do not approve.”
“Affordable housing? Percentage of facility to affordable housing?”
“Why do we need 5 story buildings downtown? Takes away from historic charm.”
“Drive aisle could be designed to encourage non-vehicle traffic to use as cut-through for pedestrians.”

“Pathway with outdoor seating for pedestrians.”
“Dumpsters (trash and recycling) for these businesses. Should be a top priority.”
“This will absolutely ruin our small town feel. I do not approve.”
“Affordable housing? Percentage of facility to affordable housing?”
“Why do we need 5 story buildings downtown? Takes away from historic charm.”
“Drive aisle could be designed to encourage non-vehicle traffic to use as cut-through for pedestrians.”

“I like the plaza and pedestrian connection through the site.”
“Any new or redevelopment should incorporate existing architectural deatils that are prevalent around downtown. The window details, brick details, modern looking windows should be discarded. Make it look nice please.”
“Trees along the street please, :)”
“Where are the trees?”

“Where will people park??”
“New buildings should look historic. <3”
“Great opportunities to activate gaps in street wall and provide more opportunity for retailers and residents to support downtown.”

“Consider using other town creations (roger mount) as design inspirations.”
“Have somoone with common sense design.”
“Parking deck to anticipate growth.”
“The design of this hub is solely on the fact of the parking deck. We are repurposing one of Wake Forest’s largest parking spaces!”
“Put a small parking deck at Jones Street lot to help with downtown residents parking as well as transit hub parking.”
“The mobility hub takes away key parking zone that is vital for the businesses in that immediate area. Where will local residents park if they come downtown? Problem parking = bad experience.”

“Parking deck here! Parking decks do not belong on downtown main street.”
“Parking deck. Put multifamily on SunTrust lot.”
“This proposal will put a burden on existing parking resources.”
“Parking deck. Food hall will need parking space.”

“Can you add the clauses for zoning to include rooftop gardens not only to reduce heat but also absorb runoff? Especially the larger multistory buildings?”

“White Street one way between Wail and Elm.”
“Shade is a key part of walkability. Tree cover is key along roadways.”
“Protected bike lane please.”
“Yay for road diet.”
“Prefer two-way to avoid confusion and keep slow speeds.”

“More for public art private mural to for public building.”
“Yes to wide sidewalks and bike lanes.”
“Tough to drive down these neighborhood streets when cars are parked on both sides. Limit parking to one side?”

“White Street one way to circle on Brooks or Taylor for seating and sidewalks.”
“One way circle. S White around to S Taylor. Use Brooks for now.”
“Outdoor dining! Bike lanes.”
“Seating!”

“Wake Forest does not need skyscrapers. Keep them all below 4 stories!”
“You should step down the stories of the buildings that go down the hill, because it will look like a skyscraper wall and that will not look welcoming!”
“Tallest buildings at ‘low-back’ are cliff wall when virtually walked. This is bad. Stepped buildings.”
“The architectural designs of all these buildings suck!”
“This^”
“Downtown development shouldn’t feel like modern Ikea buildings. Keep it historic feel. Old town. Alexandria, VA should be inspiration.”
“Mixed used resident will only add to traffic congestion. The designs of these pics are terrible, also.”
“Stepped back building design is a good thing to avoid the tight canyon feel. Taller buildings along Jones and Brooks are OK if stepped back.”
“The examples look like ‘Anywhere, USA.’ Keep the charm of current architectural theme.”

“Ocassional breaks are opportunities to produce gather spaces and remove wall barrier fatigue. Breaks for plazas.”
“If you were to repurpose a parking lot into a building, then you should repurpose the smaller one so that you don’t impact parking.”
“Because the smaller one has much less parking than the larger one!”
“I like this a lot actually.”
“How is loss of parking accounted for in these plans mobility design doesn’t seem to acknowledge this.”

“This is an ideal concept location for a rail transit hub. It’s unlikely to be feasible at this location; No parking, grade difference, landlocked, the side rail overpass is historic but aging and may need replacing.”
“Hardly anyone rides the buses. Focus on more eco-friendly micro transit.”
“Consider bike share and other micro mobile options such as scooters.”
“Stontac’s design is terrible! It fails to fit in with the surrounding historic buildings.”

“Keep the parking lots! They keep cars off the streets.”
“Facilitated turnover parking = parking meters. 1/hr etc performed over meters.”
“I do not want meters in downtown WF.”
“No meters. This can hurt downtown businesses. Instead, focus on parking decks, etc.”

“Don’t close a portion of Elm please.”
“Downtown travel in WF is bad. Closing Elm would make it worse!”
“I do not support multi lane roades. They are way too cramped.”
“Yes to new connection and shorter blocks.”
“Agree^”
“No more signals! Wake Forest has too many already and the one at the intersection is enough!”
“Roundabouts are much better than signals.”
“Agree^”

“Pedestrian crosswalk at Main Street and E Holding to access Post Office and Library etc from Tyler Run.”
“One way streets are confusing for visitors.”
“Make White Street one way southbound.”
“Pedestrian crosswalk from S White to downtown at Elm Street is dangerous. Consider a 4 way stop or pedestrian flyover (bridge).”
“A courtyard safer for pedestrians, lots of great areas to hang out, no road (like Friday Night on White.)”
“Brooks Street one way northbound.”
“Between Elm and Rosent Streets.”
“Where is the discussion of cyclists getting into downtown areas too? Cyclists also need protected and safe areas to be in.”
“Exclude on street parking bike lanes plus trees, pollinator gardens or make White Street one way for restaurant to have outdoor seating and social district.”
“Does the thru zone include cyclists? If not, there needs to be more bike paths throughout all streets to enable safe travel.”
“Sidewalk gaps, especially those adjacent to downtown need to be addressed. For example, along Wait Avenue.”

“I like all ideas about more bike access in downtown, but the problem is getting to downtown from the neighborhoods surrounding Wake Forest. Also walking to downtown. Really bad on North Main around 4 to 8.”
“Microtransit with ability to carry bikes? Please. :)”
“Consider bike lane being separated from car travel by placing a natural area and/or dedicated street parking to create a natural physical barrier. Safer than being on road.”
“Not obvious on map that the through corridor has a separate bike lane.”
“What will be the speed limit for any high level traffic? Frankling and Holding Streets.”

“Focus on the walkability of White Street and Elm.”
“Turn White one way south. Wait – Elm.”
“Prior to adoption need a traffic analysis on the impact on the community.”
“Roundabouts are amazing. More of them.”
“Please close Brick Street crossing.”
“Strongly support. Implement an annual vacancy fee for property owners in downtown area.”
“A nice well-thought out plan. Parking is issue for each area. Hoping you will keep the historic flavor and charm and do very little damage to existing businesses and structures on White Street.”
“Zero bike path.”
“Don’t let existing downtown buildings decay from owners’ lack of care.”
“More sidewalk dining and restaurants.”
“Require new buildings or additions to keep the external characteristics of the historic district.”
“Bike lanes and pedestrian lanes not combined.”
“Shopping.”
“Concerned about increased traffic, noise, and losing town character.”
“Dedicated affordable housing across all residential development.”
“Do any of the consultants/developers for this live in Wake Forest? I doubt it.”
“Good transit system. Bldg max 3 stories. Integrity of architecture maintained esp White Street but all downtown.”