Plan Cover.cdr

Northeast Neighborhood PlanNortheast Neighborhood Plan

A Road Map for the Future

CLARION ASSOCIATES

DELORES BAILEY

DR. EMIL MALIZIA

July 2007

Northeast Neighborhood Plan

July 2007

Prepared by:

Planning Department

401 Elm Avenue

Wake Forest, NC 27587

CLARION ASSOCIATES | DELORES BAILEY | DR. EMIL MALIZIA

A

cknowledgements

Wake Forest Board of Commissioners

Vivian A. Jones, Mayor

Stephen R. Barrington

Velma Boyd-Lawson

Frank Drake

David Camacho

Margaret Stinnett

Wake Forest Planning Board

Bob Hill, Chair

Al Merritt, Vice-Chair

Sarah Bridges

Tom Cornett

Chris Kaeberlein

Ward Marotti

Michael Martin

Kim Parker

Steve Stoller

Pete Thibodeau

Northeast Neighborhood Advisory Committee

Cynthia Adams

Marshall Harvey

Mary Hockaday

Glendine King Jeffreys

Diane W. Laws

Blanche McPhatter

Wanda Mukherjee

Roger Shackleford

R. Keith Shackleford

Evonne P. Thomas

Gregory C. Walton

Joel Walton

Hosts for Neighborhood Meetings

DuBois Alumni Association

Olive Branch Baptist Church

Wake Forest Town Staff

Chip Russell, Planning Director

Agnes Wanman, Historic Preservation Planner

Ann Ayers, Zoning Administration Planner

Bill Summers, Zoning Enforcement Officer

Bill Crabtree, Communications Specialist

Plan Consultants

Clarion Associates

Roger Waldon, FAICP

Leigh Anne King

Delores Bailey

Emil Malizia, PhD

Northeast Neighborhood Plan July2007

Northeast Neighborhood Plan July 2007

T

able of Contents

About the Plan 1

Northeast Neighborhood 1

Planning Area 1

Neighborhood Challenges 1

Purpose of This Plan 1

Planning Process 2

Plan Schedule 2

Public Outreach & Input 2

Relationship to Existing Plans for Town of Wake Forest 3

Existing Neighborhood Conditions 5

Land Use and Design 5

Zoning 5

Population and Demographics 6

Neighborhood Amenities 6

Housing 7

Economic Development 8

Transportation and Access 9

Pedestrian and Bike Facilities 10

Open Space, Greenways, and Recreation 10

Assets and Issues 11

Neighborhood Assets 11

Neighborhood Issues 12

Goals for the Neighborhood’s Future 14

Neighborhood Action Plan 15

Appendices 25

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 1

A

bout the Plan

Northeast Neighborhood

The Northeast Neighborhood has a bold and unique history.

In 1926, the DuBois School was established to provide educa-

tional opportunities to African-Americans. The areas

surrounding the school are still owned and lived in by many

of the alumni of the school. Residents take great pride in

their community. Many have lived in the neighborhood for

their entire lives. They have long-standing relationships with

their neighbors, and love this neighborhood for its sense of

community. Landowners and residents feel a strong

connection to the rich history of the DuBois School. The

school continues to serve the neighborhood by providing its

facilities for youth and neighborhood activities.

Planning Area

The Northeast Neighborhood is located in the northeast

quadrant of the Town of Wake Forest. It is comprised of

over 300 acres of land that include more than 700 parcels.

The Neighborhood is bordered by Wait Avenue to the south,

North White Street to the west, and abuts the downtown

commercial area. This area is home to approximately 2,300

people and is comprised mostly of single-family housing,

with some private and public multi-family developments,

churches, small businesses, and the Wake Forest Cemetery.

The DuBois campus is currently serving as the temporary

location of a Wake County Elementary School.

Neighborhood Challenges

The neighborhood has experienced disinvestment in recent

years. Many areas are in need of public infrastructure

enhancements, and improvements to private properties.

Some residents are concerned about providing ways to

increase homeownership opportunities within the neighbor-

hood. Residents are also in need of both public and private

services in close proximity to the neighborhood, and need

additional jobs and training for local workers. The neighbor-

hood has a high percentage of elderly and youth. Programs

and services are needed for these members of the

neighborhood.

This map shows the Northeast Neighborhood Planning Area and

key points of interest within the neighborhood.

Purpose of This Plan

Once adopted, the Northeast Neighborhood Plan will provide

direction and guidance to the Town of Wake Forest for

future development and improvements in the

neighborhood. This plan provides evaluations of the

existing conditions found within the neighborhood, and

specific neighborhood goals and action items to address

issues raised by the neighborhood. In addition, this plan

addresses the neighborhood’s economic development needs

and suggests actions for expanding local services and jobs.

The Plan was developed through an inclusive process of

local input. Area residents and landowners have been

engaged throughout the planning process and have

exhibited a sense of ownership for Plan development and

implementation.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 2

A

bout the Plan

Planning Process

Plan Schedule. This planning process began in

November 2006, and took approximately 6 months to com-

plete. The planning process consisted of four parts:

• Project Initiation

• Evaluation and Analysis of Existing Conditions

• Issue Identification and Public Participation Process

• Plan Implementation and Adoption

Public Engagement. This plan relied on a number of

public engagement components over the course of the six

months. It provided multiple avenues for residents, land-

owners, and others to become involved and share their ideas.

A Citizens Advisory Committee, a plan website, neighborhood

newsletters, public workshops, interviews and discussions with

stakeholders were all aspects of a public participation process

designed to engage all citizens involved in the neighborhood.

Each of these elements is described below.

Neighborhood Meetings. The process included three meetings

with neighborhood residents and landowners to identify key

neighborhood issues, to discuss plan goals and implementa-

tion strategies, and to present and discuss the final plan. At

these meetings, participants were given opportunities to voice

their concerns and provide feedback on the planning process.

Participants of the

first neighborhood

meeting discussed the

key issues that should

be addressed in the

neighborhood with the

Planning Team.

Citizens Advisory Committee. The Northeast Neighborhood

Plan Citizens Advisory Committee was made up of

voluntary members of the neighborhood. The committee

served as a sounding board for identifying issues and

strategic implementation actions, and reviewed and com-

mented on early versions of the Plan.

Website. Information about the planning effort was avail-

able on the Town’s website www.wakeforestnc.gov. All

work products generated during the planning effort, as

well as meeting and event announcements were posted to

the site.

The Northeast

Neighborhood

Plan website

served as a

clearinghouse

for all Plan

notices for

neighborhood

meetings.

Neighborhood Newsletter. Newsletters were mailed to

every resident and landowner within the neighborhood.

These newsletters provided information on the status of

the planning process, specific Town policies relevant to the

neighborhood, and goals and

implementation strategies for

the plan. The newsletters also

provided comment forms so

that interested parties could

provide feedback on the Plan

and the planning process.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 3

A

bout the Plan

Relationship to Existing Town Plans

Policy making and capital infrastructure planning in the

Town of Wake Forest is guided by adopted plans. Several of

these plans are relevant to the Northeast Neighborhood.

These plans have been reviewed by the Planning Team to

ensure that the Northeast Neighborhood Plan is consistent

with existing plans, and to identify areas of inconsistency that

need to be addressed. Pertinent existing goals and action

items from these plans are referenced within the Northeast

Neighborhood Plan. The plans are listed here.

The Town’s Land Use Management Plan provides policy

direction for future development of all lands within the Town

of Wake Forest. Upholding and improving community im-

age, and preserving and improving quality of life in existing

neighborhoods are among the objectives of the plan. As

shown in the map to the right, the Northeast Neighborhood

is included within the Town Center area. This plan was last

amended in 1997 and is available on the Town’s website.

The Downtown Renaissance Plan provides a new vision to

revitalize historic downtown Wake Forest. The Renaissance

Planning area incorporates the southwestern portions of the

Northeast Neighborhood and includes existing commercial

and residential properties. The plan includes recommenda-

tions for improving the streetscape along White Street by

encouraging infill development that is designed in a more

urban and pedestrian-friendly style, and rehabilitating the

existing shopping center along Roosevelt Avenue.

The Town’s Pedestrian Plan was adopted in October 2006. It

identifies needed pedestrian infrastructure improvements

and provides guidance on the design of future pedestrian

corridors. The Pedestrian Plan includes a list of prioritized

pedestrian corridor projects to be undertaken by the Town.

Seven of these pedestrian corridor segments are included

within the Northeast Neighborhood and have been

incorporated within this Plan.

Northeast

Neighborhood

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 4

A

bout the Plan

The Town’s Transportation Plan was adopted in January

2003. This plan provides a vision for the Town’s future

transportation system, and identifies strategic

implementation actions for addressing transit needs, road

improvements, and enhanced pedestrian and bicycle

facilities. Major road improvements are not planned for

areas within the neighborhood, but the plan does call for

improvements along Roosevelt Avenue and Wait Avenue.

Those improvements are currently underway.

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was adopted in

September 2005. The purpose of the Plan is to review and

update the framework for Town leaders and the Parks and

Recreation staff to use as they chart the course for

programming, maintenance, and development of the park

system through 2015.

The Town’s Bicycle Plan is currently being developed. The

objective of the plan is to create a plan to lay the groundwork

to make Wake Forest a more bike-friendly community. The

plan is expected to be completed in July 2007.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 5

E

xisting Conditions

Land Use and Design

The Northeast Neighborhood has evolved as a residential

neighborhood with a mix of neighborhood block sizes and

many cul-de-sacs. Neighborhood lots are modest in size,

and the primary use in the neighborhood is single-family

development. It also includes some multi-family units,

neighborhood commercial businesses, and a small shopping

center.

The neighborhood is almost fully developed, except for

vacant parcels that are scattered throughout the area.

Some of the developed residential properties are uninhab-

ited. Aside from a few single-lot projects, there are no large

redevelopment efforts taking place in the neighborhood.

The following map illustrates the existing land uses found in

the neighborhood. Full size versions of this map and all

other Plan maps can be found in the Plan Appendix.

Zoning

Neighborhood lots are primarily zoned for residential uses,

with a few parcels zoned for neighborhood commercial and

urban center uses. The map below illustrates the various

zoning districts found throughout the neighborhood. A

summary of these zoning districts and the zoning map can be

found in the Plan Appendix.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 6

E

xisting Conditions

Population and Demographics

An Economic Development Report for the neighborhood was

developed in February 2007. The full report is included in

the Plan Appendix. The report includes an analysis of

population and demographics for the neighborhood, which

are summarized here. It compares population and

demographic statistics for the neighborhood with the Town

and Wake County. This helps to paint a picture of the

neighborhood within the context of the surrounding areas.

Using Market Profile data provided by the Raleigh Chamber

of Commerce as a starting point, year 2000 data were used to

develop population estimates through year 2006 in the

neighborhood. According to these estimates, the neighbor-

hood has the same rate of growth for population as the

Town, yet slightly faster than Wake County. The number of

members per family tend to be slightly higher in the

neighborhood than for the Town and County. And the

percentage of renters is also higher within the neighborhood.

In general, persons living in the Northeast Neighborhood

have lower incomes and wealth, less homeownership, and

less education than other areas in the Town and County.

There are more blue-collar service workers, fewer persons

between 20 and 64 years of age, more African-Americans,

and more mothers of young children in the labor farce

living in the neighborhood. The sizes of households and

families are slightly higher in the neighborhood than in the

Town or Wake County.

Overall, the demographic and socioeconomic indicators for

the Northeast Neighborhood highlight issues needing

attention. There are many seniors and single, working

mothers in the neighborhood in need of assistance.

Residents are also in need of job training and would no

doubt pursue employment or business opportunities that

arose from accessible economic development opportunities.

Access to adequate social support services and affordable

childcare or eldercare would enable them to pursue

opportunities more readily.

Neighborhood Amenities

The Northeast Neighborhood is located just north of the

heart of downtown Wake Forest. It’s proximity to downtown

is one of the neighborhood’s most important features. It

provides residents with close access to public facilities and

offices. This includes the local post office, library, Ailey

Young Park, the fire department, the Alston Massenberg

Community Center, and the new North Wake County

Regional Center.

An older commercial center is located at the south end of

the neighborhood along

Roosevelt Avenue. With the

development of regional

retail centers along Capital

Blvd., this center has lost

many businesses in recent

years, including the former

anchor grocery store. Many

of the stores in this center

are still sitting vacant. There has been some development

in this center. As shown in the photo above, CVS has

recently developed a store in the area located at the front of

Characteristic #

Population 2,334

Number of Households 884

Average # Persons per

Household

2.64

Number of Families 617

Average # of Persons per

Family

3.15

Number of Housing Units 977

Percent Renter Occupied 35.6%

Percent Owner Occupied 64.4%

Table 1: 2006 Estimates for

Northeast Neighborhood

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 7

E

xisting Conditions

the site along Roosevelt Avenue. This store will provide the

neighborhood with access to a local pharmacy.

There are also a few neighborhood

retail shops located within the

neighborhood that provide needed

services to residents, such as the

ASA Food Market and Carol’s Bar-

ber and Beauty Salon. Other com-

munity amenities include several

neighborhood churches and the

Wake Forest Town Cemetery.

The DuBois Center is a critical component of the Northeast

Neighborhood. Since development of the DuBois High

School in 1926, this center has served not only to provide

African-Americans with educational opportunities, but also

as a historic landmark for the community. Over the last 80

years, the facility has been used for educational purposes.

Wake County currently leases the site and has set up mobile

units for elementary grades. In August 2007, the lease will

continue with ninth grade students from Wake Forest and

Rolesville attending classes

in the mobile units. This

arrangement generates

revenue for the Center, and

has triggered much needed

infrastructure improve-

ments on the property. The

neighborhood is generally interested in the Center continu-

ing its educational mission, and expanding services and

programs to include those needed by the neighborhood

and broader community.

The W.E.B. DuBois Community Development Corporation

just recently located its offices in the shopping center on

Roosevelt Avenue. This organization provides many pro-

grams and services geared towards increasing job and

career opportunities for residents, such as its newly estab-

lished small business incubator program.

A 900-acre residential development is being planned just

east of the neighborhood. At completion, the development

is slated to cover parts of northeastern Wake Forest, lands

around the Wake Forest reservoir, and lands within Wake

and Franklin Counties. It is located near Ailey Young Park

and Jubilee Court. The first phase of the plan for the

development includes a mix of single-family units, town-

homes, condos, duplexes, apartments, and a senior living

component. Later phases may include additional residential

units and possibly a com-

mercial component. This

development will likely

have a large impact on

the neighborhood.

Housing

As shown on the existing

land use map (page 5) the neighborhood is primarily resi-

dential in nature. The majority of housing units found in

the neighborhood are single-family, with some mobile

homes, duplexes, and a public housing development. The

actual number of existing housing units by type is outlined

in Table 2 below.

The single-family homes are modest in size and more

affordable than homes found in other areas of Town . The

average size of a home in the neighborhood is 1,200 square

feet. Most homes are older and were built, on average,

20 years ago.

Table 2: Neighborhood

Housing Statistics

Characteristic #

Single-Family Homes 503

Duplexes 10

Mobile Homes 19

Multi-Family Apartments 93

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 8

E

xisting Conditions

In November 2006, a windshield housing survey was con-

ducted to evaluate the exterior conditions of homes in the

neighborhood. The full report is located within the Plan

Appendix. The report concluded that overall, the majority

of units in the neighborhood are in fair to good condition,

and that most homes exhibit a need for maintenance and

minor repairs, such as painting, replacing shutters, and

doors, replacing windows, and other minor improvements.

Over 100 structures - 20% of the neighborhood housing

stock - were evaluated as being in poor or dilapidated

condition, and in need of major improvements.

Approximately 16% of lots in the neighborhood are vacant.

The map shown below illustrates the housing conditions

found in the neighborhood. Vacant units are shown in dark

gray. Conditions of units range from a light tan color (new)

to a dark brown (dilapidated) A full size map can be found

in the Appendix.

As the map illustrates, there are no significant

geographical patterns found in the neighborhood. Poor,

dilapidated, and vacant parcels are scattered throughout

the neighborhood. Exterior maintenance is needed on all

four types of homes found in the neighborhood. The

neighborhood as a whole exhibits a general sense of

disinvestment due to the condition of its homes.

There are many possible reasons for why some homes are

not being maintained. Homeowners may not have the

financial resources to provide regular maintenance to their

homes. Many homes in the neighborhood are rented, and

landlords may not be enforcing tenants to maintain the

properties appropriately. Some landowners live out of

Town or out of State and are not maintaining their

property on a regular basis.

Economic Development

Median household income, median home value, and per

capita income are lower in the neighborhood compared to

the Town and County for 2000 and 2006. Neighborhood

per capita income in 2006 was 81.2% of per capita income

in the Town and 74.8% of per capita income in the County.

This is partly explained by the fact that fewer working age

persons live in the neighborhood, and the neighborhood

has a relatively low percentage of residents in the labor

force. It is also explained by the fact that twice as many

very low income households live in the neighborhood than

in the Town or County. Women over 16 years of age living

with children less than 18 years old were more

economically active in the neighborhood compared to the

other two areas. More blue collar and service workers live

in the neighborhood in comparison to the Town and

County. These employees commute 30 minutes to work on

average - 5 minutes more than workers in Wake County.

The Existing Land Use Map shown on page 4 shows the

locations of local commercial properties. These businesses

are primarily located at Roosevelt and White Street;

however there are also businesses along White Street and

Lee Street and a few located within the interior areas of

the neighborhood.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 9

E

xisting Conditions

Two key neighborhood sites are identified as

“underutilized” and good opportunities for redevelopment.

These two sites are the neighborhood shopping center

located at East Roosevelt Avenue and North White Street,

and the DuBois Center campus located at North Franklin

Street.

Neighborhood Shopping Center Redevelopment. A retail

market analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential

development of the neighborhood shopping center site to

include a grocery store and additional retail shops. The

conclusion drawn from this market analysis is that a

traditional grocery is not feasible at this site, mainly be-

cause of competition from new regional retail development

along Highway 98. This is evidenced by Food Lion recently

withdrawing plans for development of a grocery at Jones

Dairy Road and Highway 98. Although a supermarket may

not be feasible, sufficient local demand may exist for

specialty products, or for a non-traditional type of grocery

store, such as a neighborhood co-operative.

DuBois Center Redevelopment. The owners of the DuBois

Center, the DuBois Alumni Association, are interested in

redeveloping the center to include new uses and services

that fulfill its educational mission. They are currently look-

ing at social, educational, and cultural activities that could

be housed at the center, as well as private businesses that

could lease space within the Center. A market analysis was

conducted to assess the feasibility of office uses at the

DuBois Center site. Office uses could be feasible. Rents for

office space would need to be priced such that they offset

the costs that would be incurred.

Transportation and Access

The northeast neighborhood is served by two major road-

ways (Juniper Avenue and Roosevelt/Wait Avenue), two

minor roadways (Allen Road and White Street), a collector

street (Spring Street), and several local streets. See the

Street Network Map shown below.

There are a few points in the neighborhood where traffic

and speeding cars are a problem. Residents have

expressed that cars often speed through the intersection of

Juniper Avenue and Allen Road. There may be other

locations within the neighborhood that are in need of

traffic calming. Roadway improvements along Roosevelt

and Wait Avenues are identified in the Town’s

Transportation Plan and are currently underway.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 10

E

xisting Conditions

Pedestrian and Bike Facilities

Sidewalks are provided along some streets in the

neighborhood. The Town’s Pedestrian Plan calls for the

future development of sidewalks along all roadways in Town.

Specifically, the plan identifies seven priority projects within

the neighborhood. These include:

• North White Street (Roosevelt to Flaherty Park)

• Roosevelt Avenue (Front Street to Wait Avenue)

• Franklin Street (NC 98 Bypass to Wait Avenue)

• Spring Street (North White Street to Taylor Street)

• Wait Avenue (Allen Road to Roosevelt Road)

• Juniper Avenue (North White Street to Jubilee)

• Taylor Street (Spring Street to Groveton Trail)

The Pedestrian Network map below shows streets currently

served by sidewalks and planned pedestrian improvements.

For a full-size map of the pedestrian network, refer to the

Plan Appendix.

Blocks in the neighborhood are designed in a suburban

style. The blocks are fairly large and do not provide

pedestrians with frequent points of access to other parts of

the neighborhood. For example, only Allen Road connects

the northern areas of the neighborhood to the southern

areas. Access to local shopping and downtown is also

made difficult by the lack of north-south connections in the

southern portions of the neighborhood. Persons traveling

from Spring Street and Pine Avenue are limited in their

ability to travel on foot to areas south.

Many street lights within the neighborhood need to have

bulbs replaced, or light fixtures added to existing poles.

There are also locations where street lights are spaced

greater than 150 feet apart and leave portions of the

neighborhood very dark under the night sky.

Open Spaces, Greenways, and Recreation

The neighborhood is primarily built out and does not have

existing open spaces for passive recreational use. The 15-

acre Ailey Young neighborhood park is located just south

of Jubilee Court. This park includes baseball fields, bas-

ketball courts, a playground, and picnic tables, but more

improvements to the park are needed. Neighbors ex-

pressed the need for trails, bikeways, and better access to

the park. To the north, a subdivision away from the

Northeast Neighborhood, is Flaherty Park, a community-

wide recreation facility. Flaherty Park contains four ball

fields, tennis courts, and indoor facilities. The concern is

over pedestrian access to the park. Also in the area is the

Alston-Massenberg Center that includes an under-utilized

former basketball court that could be redeveloped. The

DuBois Center provides its gymnasium for organized

youth basketball and other after school activities. As

shown on the Pedestrian Network map (shown on the

left), the Town is planning to develop a greenway that will

abut the southeastern areas of the neighborhood and con-

nect the Ailey Young Park with points south. There are no

sidewalks to link the Ailey Young Park from inside the

neighborhood, and park users must use local streets to

access the park.

DuBois

Center

Gym

Ailey

Young

Park

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 11

A

ssets and Issues

My roots are in this neighborhood…..I like

the people and the potential in the

neighborhood…..I know everybody

here…..We have the right leadership in the

neighborhood…..This is a safe place……

I like my home here…..The neighborhood

has the potential to be a vibrant community

Neighborhood Assets

Residents of the Northeast Neighborhood identified many

neighborhood assets during the planning process. While

there is room for improvement in the neighborhood, many

recognize what makes the neighborhood such a unique and

comfortable place to live.

There is a strong sense of pride in the Northeast

Neighborhood. Residents of the neighborhood see the value

of their neighborhood and are willing to work collectively to

further enhance it.

Unlike many older residential neighborhoods found in

communities nationwide, this neighborhood has managed to

retain many of its residents over the long-term.

Relationships between neighbors span for decades in some

instances. The neighborhood is also welcoming to

newcomers, and provides convenient access to downtown

Wake Forest and local recreational facilities.

The history of the neighborhood is alive and well in the

hearts and minds of its elderly residents. The DuBois Center

continues to serve as a reminder of “a better tomorrow”.

This history can be continued on to future generations.

While many areas within the region are developing higher

priced housing, the neighborhood continues to provide

adequate, market-rate affordable housing to Wake Forest

residents.

The Northeast Neighborhood provides comfortable,

affordable housing to its residents.

Area residents have long-standing relationships and are

willing to work together to improve the neighborhood.

Proximity to downtown is a benefit to neighborhood residents.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 12

A

ssets and Issues

Many homes need structural improve-

ments….Vacant lots are overgrown….Trash

pickup is often a problem….We need greater

access to a grocery store….The kids need to

be taken off the streets and given activities

and jobs….Additional recreational facilities

are needed….

Neighborhood Issues

Northeast Neighborhood residents and landowners see a

better future for their neighborhood. Participants in this

planning process worked diligently to identify the issues that

the neighborhood faces, as well as ways to resolve these

problems. As the neighborhood worked to identify the

issues, several key themes emerged, and are discussed here.

Community Self-Image and Pride. The

neighborhood does not currently have a collective voice or

means for organizing around neighborhood initiatives. Even

though neighbors regularly communicate with each other,

not having a neighborhood association or some other type of

organized group makes it difficult to reach consensus on

issues, communicate to the entire neighborhood, and

collectively engage in discussions with the Town.

Homeownership. The neighborhood has a higher

percentage of renters in comparison to the Town and the

County. Many residents are interested in becoming home-

owners, but feel that home buying is out of their reach

financially. There are many programs that exist to assist

interested homebuyers. Coordination and advertisement of

these programs is needed.

Neighborhood Appearance. Many homes within

the neighborhood are in need of maintenance and repairs.

There is a general sense that the neighborhood’s housing

stock has been declining in recent years. Many homeowners

don’t have the resources to make these needed

improvements. Public improvements are also needed to

enhance the appearance of the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Safety.

Crime is an important issue

that needs to be addressed in the neighborhood. The

perception of crime may be worse than actual crime statistics

show; however, residents don’t feel as safe as they could

and would like to improve safety in the neighborhood.

Improving street lighting within the neighborhood could

increase visibility, deter crime and make residents feel more

safe. Residents are also concerned about speeding cars,

especially in areas where there are no sidewalks and pedes-

trians must walk in the street. Pedestrian walkways

throughout the neighborhood need to be improved by

providing crosswalks and sidewalks at strategic locations.

Residents are interested in increasing homeownership

opportunities within the neighborhood.

Pedestrian access and safety could be improved by developing

sidewalks in key locations throughout the neighborhood.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 13

A

ssets and Issues

Neighborhood Jobs and Services. Many

neighborhood residents are in need of job training services,

and access to local jobs. Several programs aimed at

increasing job opportunities are available through the W.E.B.

DuBois CDC and Wake County Human Services; however,

residents may be unaware of these programs., or need addi-

tional assistance and training.

There are opportunities for redevelopment of two key sites

in the neighborhood - a neighborhood shopping center, and

the historic DuBois Center property. The future of these sites

will have a large impact on the neighborhood. Future devel-

opment should include programs, jobs and, services that are

needed by the neighborhood. Residents have expressed

great interest in having a local grocery store, healthcare of-

fices, job training, employment opportunities, and additional

youth programs within close proximity to the neighborhood.

DuBois Center Redevelopment. The future of

the DuBois Center site will be determined by the DuBois

Alumni Association. The neighborhood is eager to work with

the association to ensure that future uses on the site further

the educational mission of the Center, and provide the

community with needed programs and services.

Transportation and Access. Many of the

neighborhood’s elderly and disabled residents do not have

good access to medical facilities, grocery stores, and other

services. These residents are in need of low-cost transporta-

tion services. Working age residents do not have good access

to job training and employment opportunities. Encouraging

the development of uses in proximity to the neighborhood

could assist with this access issue, as well as providing addi-

tional forms of transportation to neighborhood residents.

Recreation. Opportunities for recreating are located

close to the neighborhood; however, some of these facilities

are in need of improvements., such as Ailey Young Park and

the Alston Massenberg Center. Many families are also in

need of affordable activities and athletic programs for local

youth. Seniors in the neighborhood need access to senior

programs and services.

Redevelopment of the existing neighborhood shopping center

could provide needed goods and services to area residents.

Improvements could be made to the DuBois Center

to provide the community with needed programs and services.

Neighborhood recreational facilities are in

need of repair and improvements.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 14

N

eighborhood Goals

A Road Map for the Future

Just as every good traveler has a final destination in mind,

every good neighborhood plan needs to identify what the

neighborhood would like to be in the future. The process for

creating that future is to first develop a set of neighborhood-

wide goals. These goals should provide a broad vision for

the future of the neighborhood.

The Northeast Neighborhood has decided on the following

list of goals for their community. These goals address all of

the issues that the neighborhood currently faces, while also

maintaining the assets and neighborhood qualities that

residents are proud of.

These goals will provide guidance to elected officials and

Town staff when making future decisions that impact the

neighborhood. A good rule of thumb when making a

decision that will impact the neighborhood is to determine

whether a policy decision or infrastructure investment will

work to meet one or more of the following goals.

The Plan’s goals serve as a road map for

the neighborhood’s future.

Neighborhood Goals

1. Create an active and vibrant

community where residents are

safe.

2. Encourage infill development and

redevelopment to be designed in a

manner that enhances the

character of the neighborhood.

3. Provide greater opportunities for

homeownership.

4. Reduce speeding and other

negative traffic impacts on the

neighborhood.

5. Create greater pedestrian and

bicycle access throughout the

neighborhood, and to local points

of interest.

6. Improve the visual character of the

neighborhood.

7. Encourage the development of

new, local programs and busi-

nesses that provide jobs and

needed services.

8. Create a central community

gathering place that encourages

neighborhood interaction.

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 15

N

eighborhood Action Plan

The Neighborhood Action Plan

A key aspect of this Plan is how it will be carried out after it is

adopted. This Action Plan recommends how the Town, the

neighborhoods, and other neighborhood partners may best

implement the goals outlined in the Plan. Action items

address the many issues raised during the planning process,

and are organized by the previously discussed issue themes.

The Action Plan builds on the Plan goals and defines specific

actions for achieving this Plan. It also determines the priority

and timing of the actions to be able to allocate resources.

The Action Plan Matrix that follows lists the actions required

to implement this Plan, the type of action to be taken, the

lead agency or entity responsible for the action, and the rela-

tive priority of actions.

Priority actions are identified as follows:

• Ongoing actions are to be initiated upon adoption

of the Plan and should be ongoing.

• Immediate actions should be initiated upon

adoption of the Plan and should be completed by

the end of the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

• Short-Term actions should be completed within 2-3

years of Plan adoption.

• Long-Term actions should be completed within 3-6

years of Plan adoption.

The types of actions necessary to carry out the plan

include:

• Enforcement actions that address improving

enforcement of existing public regulations.

• Program actions identify development of new or

enhancement of existing programs needed by the

neighborhood. Some actions involve participating

in efforts with other partners to achieve Plan goals.

• Capital Improvement actions identify public

improvements to services and facilities. The Plan

recommends coordinating the Capital Improvement

Plan (CIP) with the capital improvement action

items referenced in the Plan.

• Policy Direction actions identify policies to be

implemented or evaluated in the future.

• Coordination and Partnership actions address the

need for establishing better means of

communication or public outreach between area

residents and government and non-profit entities

that can provide services to the neighborhood. In

some cases, the Action Plan may recommend more

formalized partnerships or sponsorships to

accomplish projects.

The Town should work with the neighborhood to

periodically review and prioritize the actions identified in

the Action Plan, and revise them as necessary.

N

eighborhood Action Plan

Action Action Type Lead Agency or Entity Priority

Community Self-Image and Pride

Establish a Northeast Neighborhood Association. Program Neighborhood Residents Immediate

Homeownership

Encourage relevant organizations to make

homeownership needs in neighborhood a priority.

Coordination and Partnerships/

Program

Town, Wake County Housing

Authority, W.E.B. DuBois CDC,

Wake County Housing and Commu-

nity Revitalization Program, Habitat

for Humanity, Self-Help, and other

local affordable housing programs

Ongoing

Increase awareness of existing homeownership

and home improvement assistance programs by

developing a clearinghouse of information for

interested homebuyers, especially for seniors. The

clearinghouse could be located on the Town’s

Northeast Neighborhood website, and should

include such information as the Wake County

Housing Authority’s second mortgage program,

the W.E.B. DuBois home development program,

home improvement programs for seniors avail-

able through Resources for Seniors, Inc., and

other related programs.

Coordination and Partnerships/

Program

Town, Wake County Housing

Authority, W.E.B. DuBois CDC, Wake

County Housing and Community Re-

vitalization Program, Resources for

Seniors, Inc., NC Housing Finance

Agency, Habitat for Humanity, Self-

Help, Old Farmers Grant Program,

and other appropriate organizations

Ongoing

Explore opportunities to provide coordinated

technical and financial assistance to persons

interested in buying or improving a home.

Strategies could include locating a coordinator

office at the new Wake County Housing Resource

Center.

Coordination and Partnerships/

Program

Town, Wake County Housing

Resource Center, Wake County Hous-

ing Authority, Resources for Seniors

Inc., W.E.B. DuBois CDC, and other

appropriate organizations

Short-Term

Assist interested homebuyers by expanding

existing home buying educational programs or

creating new programs to address unmet needs.

Coordination and

Partnerships/Program

Town, Wake County Housing

Resource Center, Wake County Hous-

ing Authority, W.E.B. DuBois CDC, and

other appropriate organizations

Short-Term

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 16

N

eighborhood Action Plan

Action Action Type Lead Agency or Entity Priority

Educate homeowners on energy efficiency

tools and techniques; and make energy

audits available to homeowners. Increase

awareness of senior homeowners regarding

grants for energy efficiency improvements.

Coordination and

Partnerships/Program

Wake Forest Power Department

and Resources for Seniors, Inc.

Short-Term

Neighborhood Appearance

Improve enforcement of nuisance

ordinance regarding the storing of junked

cars, and trash/debris on lots within the

neighborhood.

Enforcement Planning & Police Departments Immediate

Provide education and outreach to

neighborhood residents on Town’s trash

collection and recycling policies, and

penalties for not removing trash and debris

from properties.

Coordination and

Partnerships/Program

Public Works Department and

Neighborhood Association

(when formed)

Ongoing

Organize “Community Cleanup and

Beautification” work days.

Program

Public Works Department and

Neighborhood Association

(when formed)

Ongoing

Extend downtown streetscape improve-

ments (as identified in the Renaissance

Plan) to the eastern side of North White

Street from Roosevelt Avenue to Spring

Street, possibly extending to Juniper

Avenue.

Capital Improvement Public Works Department Long-Term

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 17

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 18

N

eighborhood Action Plan

Action Action Type Lead Agency or Entity Priority

Develop illustrated design guidelines for

neighborhood, to provide guidance to

developers on types of housing design and

landscaping appropriate for the

neighborhood.

Program Planning Department

Long-Term

Explore need to rezone the neighborhood

to encourage appropriate uses and prohibit

inappropriate development opportunities.

New zoning should include specific design

standards for neighborhood development.

Policy Direction Planning Department Long-Term

Establish a “Neighborhood Watch Group”. Coordination and Partnerships

Police Department and

Neighborhood Association

(when formed)

Immediate

Reinstate the Community Policing

Program and create a greater Police pres-

ence in the neighborhood. Utilize existing

substations at the DuBois Center and

Alston-Massenberg Community Center.

Program Police Department Short-Term

Neighborhood Safety

Replace burned out street lamp bulbs, and

install light fixtures to existing poles in

neighborhood. Install light fixtures in

heavily traveled areas and where existing

street lamps are spaced more than 150 feet

apart.

Capital Improvement Public Works Department Short-Term

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 19

N

eighborhood Action Plan

Action Action Type Lead Agency or Entity Priority

At a minimum, street lights should be

provided at the following locations:

• Corner of Juniper and Taylor

• Entrance of Alston-Massenberg Center

• 602 Jubilee Court

• 630 Jubilee Court

• Corner of North Allen and Best

Capital Improvement Public Works Department Short-Term

Explore and implement traffic calming

options for corner of Juniper Avenue and

Allen Road.

Capital Improvement/

Coordination and Partnerships

Engineering Department and

North Carolina Department of

Transportation

Long-Term

Plan and construct the seven neighborhood

sidewalk improvements identified in the

Town’s Pedestrian Plan. Priority sidewalk

improvements include:

• Providing continuous sidewalks along

Juniper Avenue from Allen to the

entrance of Ailey Young Park

• Along N. Franklin Street from Perry to

J.B. Flaherty Park

• Providing continuous sidewalks along

White Street from Juniper to Flaherty

• Along Spring Street from White to

Taylor

• Along Caddell Street from Spring down

to Wait

Capital Improvement Public Works Department Long-Term

Plan and construct neighborhood

crosswalks, at the following locations:

• Corner of Juniper and Taylor

• Corner of Juniper and Allen

Capital Improvement

Public Works & Engineering

Departments

Long-Term

N

eighborhood Action Plan

Action Action Type Lead Agency or Entity Priority

Neighborhood Jobs and Services

Increase awareness of existing job training

and career assistance programs through

public outreach. Programs include the

W.E.B. DuBois CDC’s small business incuba-

tor program and micro-enterprise pro-

gram, Wake Tech Community College pro-

grams, and others.

Coordination and Partnerships/

Program

Town, W.E.B. DuBois CDC, Wake

Tech Community College, Wake

County Human Services, and other

appropriate organizations

Ongoing

Expand existing job training and career

assistance educational programs; and

create new programs to address unmet

needs in the community, such as the need

for affordable daycare and transportation

to employment centers and educational

facilities.

Coordination and

Partnerships/Program

Town, W.E.B. DuBois CDC, Wake

County Human Services, and other

appropriate organizations

Short-Term

Explore non-traditional business models for

developing retail/service businesses in the

shopping plaza along Wait Avenue.

Coordination and Partnerships/

Analysis

Town, Wake Forest

Chamber of Commerce, and

Neighborhood Association

(when formed)

Short-Term

Identify incentives for development of local

businesses within the neighborhood.

Policy Direction Planning Department Long-Term

DuBois Center Redevelopment

Maintain dialogue with DuBois Alumni

Association regarding future plans for the

DuBois Center and its importance as a

service provider for the neighborhood and

larger community.

Coordination and Partnerships

Planning Department and

Neighborhood Association

(when formed)

Ongoing

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 20

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 21

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eighborhood Action Plan

Action Action Type Lead Agency or Entity Priority

Develop a comprehensive conceptual plan

for redevelopment of the historic DuBois

campus.

Coordination and Partnerships/

Program

DuBois Alumni Association and

NC State University

Short-Term

Transportation and Access

Explore options for providing no-fare or

low-cost fare transportation services to

seniors and disabled members of the

community to improve access to critical

needs such as senior centers, healthcare

offices, pharmacies, and grocery stores.

Coordination and Partnerships/

Program

Planning Department and

Wake County Human Services

Short-Term

Explore opportunities to create north-south

pedestrian connector between Pine and

Wait Avenues.

Capital Improvement Planning Department Long-Term

Construct street and sidewalk along

unimproved segment of Perry Avenue

between Jubilee Court and Allen Road; and

along unimproved segment of Caddell

Street from Spring Street to Wait Avenue.

Capital Improvement

Planning and Public Works

Departments

Long-Term

Explore options for providing transit service

or other transportation service that will link

the neighborhood to job centers, educa-

tional centers, and other key locations.

Capital Improvement

Planning Department and

Wake County Human Services

Long-Term

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 22

N

eighborhood Action Plan

Action Action Type Lead Agency or Entity Priority

Improve pedestrian access to Flaherty Park

by constructing a sidewalk on White Street

and constructing another entrance to the

park from Flaherty Farms subdivision,

which can provide access through Flaherty

Farms.

Explore opportunities for expanding senior

services, including options for a new senior

center to relieve existing centers that are

operating over-capacity, and providing

transportation to senior centers.

Coordination and Partnerships/

Program

Town, Resources for Seniors, Inc.,

and Wake County Human

Services

Short-Term

Identify needed activities and programs for

neighborhood youth.

Program Parks and Recreation Department Short-Term

Explore possibilities for additional facilities

at the Ailey Young Park. Ideas include:

• Greenways and walking paths

• Bike Trail

• More picnic areas and a pavilion

• Tennis and basketball courts

Capital Improvement Parks and Recreation Department Long-Term

Explore improvements to Alston/

Massenberg Center to replace or re-use the

vacant basketball court.

Capital Improvement Parks and Recreation Department Long-Term

Identify sites within the neighborhood that

could serve as tot lots, mini parks, or other

smaller recreational sites. Create a plan to

develop parks at potential sites.

Capital Improvement Parks and Recreation Department Long-Term

Recreation

Capital Improvement

Planning and Public Works

Departments

Short-Term

Northeast Neighborhood Plan 23

N

eighborhood Action Plan

Action Action Type Lead Agency or Entity Priority

Continue to provide pertinent information

related to the implementation of this Plan

to the neighborhood on the Town’s website,

and by distributing materials to

neighborhood locations such as the DuBois

Center and area churches.

Public Outreach Planning Department Ongoing

Identify staff capacity needed to oversee

implementation of Northeast Neighbor-

hood Plan. Dedicate capacity to oversee

plan.

Policy Direction Planning Department Short-Term

Consider the need for a neighborhood

overlay district to address the size, scale,

and design of homes in the neighborhood

to encourage long-term affordability and

appropriateness within the neighborhood.

Policy Direction Planning Department Long-Term

Other