Zip Codes: Youngsville

For Tracy and Janet Young, operating a wine shop in downtown Youngsville is a far cry from working in the big city of Boston. But, the twosome never regret trading in the northern urban life for the southern charm of Janet’s hometown.

“At first, people thought it was a bit strange to open a wine store here,” says Tracy. “But, with all the growth in the area, we are getting new customers every day. It is working out great for us.”

The Youngs are among many who have decided to live, work and play in Youngsville, a tiny town on the southern edge of Franklin County. The residential explosion that has pushed into northern Wake County is creeping across the county line into the once rural community.

With a population of about 1,182, up from 641 in 2000, Youngsville is starting to experience the growth that has hit neighboring Wake Forest and Rolesville.

Today, upscale neighborhoods are filling fields once lined with tobacco and pine trees. Downtown Youngsville has attracted a gourmet coffee bar, kitchen boutique, florist and the Youngs’ wine shop with bright new awnings and decorative murals.

And, more growth is coming as both newcomers and old-timers continue to enjoy Youngsville’s small town charm with nearby big city amenities.

“We have a lot to offer folks who want a less hectic lifestyle, but still want to be near shopping centers and office parks,” says town administrator Brenda Robbins, a Youngsville native. “We haven’t grown as fast as Wake County, but the homes and people definitely are coming our way now.”

The Town of Youngsville was established as a community in 1848 called “Pacific,” reflecting the quiet and peaceful site on which it was located. The town, incorporated on March 17, 1875, was named Youngsville, in honor of the Young family, who donated land to the railroad for a train depot.

Cotton and tobacco markets flourished in the early 1900s and were located in a three-block business area on Main Street. Brick buildings, still standing today, housed businesses such as Youngsville Bottling Works, two lumber yards, and a cotton gin.

Today downtown Youngsville is getting a facelift with many new and existing businesses thriving with the growth and development.

Janis Cyrus, executive director of the 200-member Youngsville Area Business Association, is overseeing the façade grants awarded by the town and Crescent Communities, the developers of the Hidden Lake neighborhood.

Brick sidewalks and awnings have been installed. An antique Coca-Cola sign on a building has been re-painted. And, a large mural of Youngsville scenes was painted by Kim Young of Knightdale on Griffin’s Restaurant. Baseball pictures have been painted on the concession stand at Luddy Park.

The next project is the painting of a mural of farm scenes on the old milling company building on Railroad Street.

In addition to the downtown renovation projects, the association sponsors a variety of events such as an annual Lake Donna Party, Fall Festival and Old Time Christmas.

Lake Donna, named after the daughter of the lake’s owners, was a popular swimming spot for decades until it closed in the 1970s. Christmas activities include a pancake breakfast, parade, crafts for the children, lighting of the tree and a visit by Santa Claus.

“Our goal is to have a downtown promotion every month during the year,” says Cyrus, who is proud of the renovation work and the new businesses downtown. “Youngsville is still a small town, but we want people to know we have a lot of offer.”

While the downtown area grows and prospers, more stores are starting to migrate to other areas of town.

In late October, the first chain grocery store – Food Lion – opened at the intersection of U.S. 1 and N.C. 96. Previously, the closest grocery store would have been in Wake Forest to the south and Franklinton to the north, a good five mile drive in either direction.

“We have waited a long time for our own grocery store,” says Robbins. “The Food Lion is the largest commercial construction project in Youngsville in years.”

The 35,000-square-foot grocery store is part of a 56,000-square-foot first phase for the future Youngsville Crossing shopping center. Eventually, it will be 92,000 square feet, with the rest of the spaces to be leased out to a mix of national and local tenants.

New home construction in Youngsville and the surrounding area are the driving force behind the opening of the grocery store. Some of the Triangle’s largest real estate companies have opened offices in the town, a sign of the many new homes under construction.

Numerous new neighborhoods such as Olde Liberty Golf and Country Club, Hidden Lake, StoneRidge, Tanager Farms, Rivers Edge, Winston Ridge and Glen Oaks are drawing residents at a record pace. Many new home buyers are commuters to Wake County and Raleigh.

“The majority of our homebuyers are looking for a peaceful country setting with larger lots and homes,” says Kim Yontosh, senior marketing manager with Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Builder Services.

Glen Oaks, with 83 home lots, is almost completed with just eight sites remaining. Homes in this subdivision start in the $200,000s. Rivers Edge, built exclusively by DenMark Homes in Youngsville, is located off NC96, and has homes starting at $350,000 and features a total of 96 homesites. Tanager Farms has 56 lots with homes starting at $250,000.

Winston Ridge is a large, new subdivision located off NC96 with 577 lots, Yontosh says. It will feature single family homes starting at $240,000 and the first patio homes in town, starting at $170,000. The planned community also will include various amenities such as a pool, clubhouse, walking trails and dog park.

StoneRidge, located off NC96, features 81 lots and a custom building team. It is being developed by John Gwynn of Alliance Building Group.
“Our homes are located on large lots and feature front porches with many other amenities,” says Paula Raybon, sales manager for Fonville Morisey & Barefoot New Home Sales and Marketing.

Olde Liberty Golf and Country Club community, located between Youngsville and Franklinton, started construction about two years ago with homes ranging from $200,000 to $700,000, says Jerry Martin, the project manager.

“The 18-hole semi-private golf course is scheduled to open in the late winter or early spring,” Martin says. “We are looking for the County Club to be built by May.”

Hidden Lake is a gated community featuring 124 home sites spread throughout 600 acres. Homes start in the $900,000s and amenities include six miles of trails, bike paths, canoe and kayak launches, fishing pier, outdoor pavilion and a lake house as a community center. Hidden Lake is home to the 2007 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Showcase for a Cure built by Bost Custom Homes.

With all the new homes and residents, town officials are excited about the future of fast-growing Youngsville.

“We are seeing a lot of changes coming to the town, but they are good changes,” says town administrator Robbins. “A lot of new residents now are calling Youngsville home and we are glad to have them here.”

Photo Credit
Youngsville Photographs courtesy of the Youngsville Area Business Association

StoneRidge House photo courtesy of Deborah D'Armeha