The Town of Wake Forest is very proud of its special historic character. The town grew up around Wake Forest College and first recognized “Faculty Avenue” as a local historic district because the homes were closely connected with the college. Faculty Avenue is North Main Street. The historic district also includes the block of North Avenue just west of North Main Street and the block of South Avenue just east of South Main Street. The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) was established by ordinance to advise the Board of Commissioners in matters regarding the historic district and the historical heritage of the town.
The ordinance establishing the HPC and describing its powers and duties are part of the town’s Zoning Ordinance. Actually, the historic district is considered an “overlay district” and the HPC is given authority over that overlay area. Its powers and duties encompass a wide range of activities, including:
- conducting an inventory of historic properties,
- recommending to the Board of Commissioners properties for designation as historic landmarks,
- review make decisions regarding proposals for alteration or demolition of landmarks and buildings in the local historic district,
- give advice to property owners regarding the treatment of their property,
- conduct an education program on historic properties,
- prepare a historic preservation element as part of the town’s comprehensive plan,
- accept funds to be used for preservation purposes,
- acquire properties or interest in properties,
- restore and operate such properties,
- enter upon private lands and make examinations or surveys as necessary to the performance of its official duties, and
- prepare and adopt guidelines for altering, restoring, moving, or demolishing historic properties.
Those that most directly affect property owners and residents in the local historic district are the third and the last power or duty in the list. The third refers to the review and granting of Certificates of Appropriateness (COA). The last refers to the Design Guidelines upon which decisions regarding COAs are made.
As a reminder, any work you do to the exterior of your building or to your lot (such as fences, light posts, sidewalks, storage sheds, etc.) that is visible from any point along the street requires a COA before the work is begun. Some COA=s, called minor works, can be issued at the staff level. All others require a public hearing conducted by the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission and their subsequent approval. Applications are available at the town planning office located at 221 S. Brooks Street. The application must be completed and submitted thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the Historic Preservation Commission will review it (The Commission meets at 7:30pm the 2nd Wednesday of every month.). There is no fee in connection to a COA. A COA is valid for six months and may be renewed by the HPC upon request.
The ordinance also discusses the designation of local historic landmarks and local historic districts, as well as COAs, the authority to delay demolitions for up to 365 days, and demolition by neglect. It includes a list of items that should be taken into consideration by the HPC when reviewing a COA application and a copy of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
The HPC is made up of nine members, a minimum of four of which must reside in the historic district. The rest must reside somewhere in the zoning jurisdiction of the town. Members should demonstrate a special interest or expertise in historic preservation and/or historic properties and are appointed by the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners for terms of four years.