Development & Growth

New construction, rezoning, housing, traffic, infrastructure

Development & Growth, Environment & Sustainability, News, Town Government

The Neuse North Area Plan: What It Means for Chesterfield Village

If you drive down Ligon Mill Road today, the changes are impossible to ignore. Just across the street from Chesterfield Village, the woods have been strip-cut and the heavy machinery has arrived. Now, a new set of flyers appearing in mailboxes this week suggests that Chesterfield Village itself might be next. Residents of Chesterfield Village

Development & Growth, Infrastructure, Opinion, Town Government

The Price of Growth: Wake Forest’s “Identified Need” Jumps to $532 Million

If the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a window into the soul of the town’s bureaucracy, then the view for 2026-2031 is expensive. Tonight, (January 6), the Board of Commissioners will review the Updated CIP for FY 2026-2031. Last year, the town’s “identified need” in the 2025-2030 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) Update had hit a

Development & Growth, Opinion, Town Government

The Invisible Line: How Your Address Shapes Services, Taxes, and Representation

Two Jurisdictions, One Wake Forest: While we all share the same local identity, your address determines how you vote and how you’re taxed. Wake Forest is in a season of major decisions: new housing, changing traffic patterns, rezonings, and long‑range planning that will shape the town for decades. If you listen to public meetings or

Development & Growth, Infrastructure, News, Town Government

The $532 Million Blueprint and a Historic Farewell: Why Tuesday Night Changes Everything

Essential Documents To Review Ahead of the Meeting: Meeting Agenda for December 16th Agenda Packet for December 16th (All of the documents for the meeting) Capital Improvement Plan 2026-2031 Sign Up To Speak During Public Comment Period Tonight, Tuesday, December 16th, at 6:00 PM, history will be made in the Board Chambers at 301 S.

Business, Development & Growth, Infrastructure, News

Correction and Apology: Infrastructure Identified as Primary Hurdle for Proposed Costco Site

A wider perspective of the Northern Wake Forest commercial hub. The site (center right) is shown relative to high-volume retailers like Wegmans and Sam’s Club, highlighting the density of the existing corridor. Correction and Apology In a previous article regarding the “Grovedale” project, I speculated that the developer, Alliance Group NC (AGNC), was “over-extended.” That

Development & Growth, Opinion, Town Government

Part 8 – Beyond Houses: A Proactive Strategy for Revenue-Positive Growth

A visual reminder that dense, walkable development generates far more long-term value per acre than low-yield sprawl. This is central to any Wake Forest revenue-positive growth strategy. A Wake Forest revenue-positive growth strategy is essential for our future. In this series, we have diagnosed the core challenges of our new small-city status (Part 1). We’ve

Development & Growth, Opinion, Town Government

Part 7 — Wake Forest’s Small‑City Operating Model (Capacity, Transparency, Delivery)

A symbolic visualization of town governance evolving from misalignment to seamless efficiency. As gears shift into sync, a radiant overlay represents the emergence of clarity, data-driven decision-making, and smart management. The Wake Forest small-city operating model needs an upgrade. This brings us to the final, crucial piece of the puzzle. We can have the best

Development & Growth, Infrastructure, Opinion, Town Government

Part 6 – The Infrastructure Cliff — and the Fix‑It‑First Playbook

This powerful visual illustrates the true cost of neglected infrastructure. We’ve discussed budgets and revenue, but the most visible challenge for residents is often our infrastructure. We all see it: more congestion on critical roads — a symptom of the Wake Forest infrastructure cliff fix-it-first advocates warn about, more wear and tear on our pavement,

Development & Growth, Opinion, Town Government

Part 5 – A Fair‑Share Partnership: A PILOT with SEBTS

When institutions & the community work together, resources flow into a common well, benefiting everyone & strengthening the town. It’s about mutual benefit & shared responsibility, ensuring a just and equal contribution to our collective future. A Wake Forest PILOT SEBTS fair share partnership could transform local revenue. As we search for a more balanced

Development & Growth, Opinion, Town Government

Part 4 – Why Local Government Can’t Stop Bad Growth (and What We Still Can Do)

The choices we make about growth profoundly shape our community’s future. This visual illustrates the two distinct paths Wake Forest faces: one of thoughtful, integrated “Smart Growth Planning” that leads to fiscal balance and a thriving town, and another of uncoordinated development that often leaves us with sprawling, inefficient outcomes. Which path will we choose?

Development & Growth, Environment & Sustainability, Opinion

Part 2- Our Towns Are Building a Demographic Time Bomb

The clock is ticking on our towns’ demographic future. Urgent action and strategic planning, looking decades ahead, are critical to avert a crisis A stunning new report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) just confirmed what we all feel in our bones: the housing market is fundamentally broken. According to the just-released 2025 Profile

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