A Tale of Two Cities:Fuquay-Varina

At one end of Main Street in Fuquay-Varina, the historic Fuquay Mineral Spring Inn and Garden greets visitors and guests to town with a homemade Southern breakfast served up by the town’s Mayor John Byrne and his wife Patty.

On the other end of Main Street, large national restaurants and retail chain stores supply fast food and fast service to the many newcomers and long-time residents alike. Fuquay-Varina is truly a tale of two towns. With a rich heritage as a farming community, Fuquay-Varina retains many of its rural roots but has also has seen tremendous commercial and residential development in recent years. Combining this urban growth with a rural past without losing the small-town charm is the challenge today. Fuquay-Varina really did get its start as two communities in southern Wake County.

In the mid-1800s, tobacco farmer Stephen Fuquay discovered a spring while he was plowing the fields of the family plantation. Soon convinced that the springs had healing properties, he spread the word and created an eventual tourist attraction. The town incorporated as Fuquay Springs. At about the same time former Civil War soldier and schoolmaster Squire Ballentine and wife Varina settled and formed an adjacent community. Located along the railroad tracks, both towns prospered as major trading hubs for the area. As the residents worked, played and attended church together, the eventual merger into Fuquay-Varina in 1936 was inevitable.

Today the town still boosts two vibrant downtown districts with stores, offices and historic buildings. The Fuquay Mineral Spring Inn and Garden is located directly across the street from the historic Fuquay Mineral Spring Park. The downtown inn is listed on the National Register Historic District and features five restored rooms and gardens that are popular for area weddings.

A resident of the town for 34 years, John Byrne has served as mayor for six years and as an innkeeper for seven. He is proud of his town with its strong historic downtowns coupled with fast-growing neighborhoods and new commercial and retail development.“Despite all our recent growth, Fuquay-Varina is still a town with a strong sense of place,” Byrne says. “People still love to live here due to its rich heritage and are enjoying all the additional amenities.”

Like so many Wake County towns Fuquay-Varina is experiencing record growth. With a 1990 population of 4,448, the town today boosts more than 15,000 residents. And more are relocating as neighborhoods and shopping centers are developed. “We are approving new subdivisions all the time,” says Byrne. “Fuquay-Varina has the third largest urban services area in the county, and we are seeing growth in all sections.”

Local developers also praise Fuquay-Varina for its small-town atmosphere with many of the amenities of larger cities in the area. New residents can enjoy the peaceful neighborhoods with community centers as well as Wake County schools and parks. “There is an impressive infrastructure of growth occurring in Fuquay-Varina because of the small-town living, charming downtown and value of homes,” says Mike Jordan, president of JordanBuilt Homes. “All of this creates a high demand for newcomers to move here.” Knightdale-based JordanBuilt Homes has been building homes in the Triangle area for over 15 years and is currently involved in the development of ten communities. In the Fuquay-Varina area the Carriage Heights and Summerdale subdivisions are being built by Perry Builders and JordanBuilt Homes. Raleigh-based Perry Builders has been building in the area since 1997 and has been involved in 20 communities in the Triangle.

Homeowners are being attracted to Fuquay-Varina for a variety of reasons. “The location and convenience alone have been huge attractions to Fuquay-Varina along with plenty of family activities to experience,” says Ryan Perry, CEO of Perry Builders. “Buyers are also flocking here because they get more value in the homes for their money.” Located on Wagstaff Road, Carriage Heights has been opened since January 2006. The first phase with about 72 homes is about 70 percent complete and the second phase with 74 lots is being planned with construction set to begin in the fall. The single-family homes start in the low $200,000s.

Located on Coley Farm Road, the Summerdale subdivision is in the early stage of construction with models opening this summer. It will have 201 homes starting at $190,000. Brighton Forest, a Community Properties, Inc. development in Fuquay-Varina is also planning 392 homes in town which will range from the $230’s to the $420’s. Tommy Fonville, president and owner of Community Properties, Inc. says they chose Fuquay-Varina because it is “the kind of town you’d like to raise your family in. They have a professional municipal staff and are well positioned to experience a balanced and stable economic growth.” Brighton Forest is located off Johnson Pond Road in Fuquay-Varina.

Numerous other new neighborhoods also are being built in the area. BroadStreet Homes, a division of St. Lawrence Homes focusing on the new home buyer market, is developing Springhill community off N.C. 55 and Wade Nash Road. Home prices range from $170,000 to $250,000.

Atlanta-based Scenic Homes is building Village of Charleston south of Judd Parkway in Fuquay-Varina. Construction is just starting on the 75 homes that will range from $195,000 to $230,000.

“Fuquay-Varina is a wonderful town with its own charm, but located close to many of the amenities of a larger city such as Raleigh,” says Scenic Homes Company Principal Darryl Daigre. “It is just a great community for children and families.”As the director of the Fuquay-Varina Revitalization Association, Susan Weis is especially proud of the two vibrant downtown business districts. In just three years, the association has helped 24 businesses refurbish their store fronts. In May the association hosted a visionary meeting to gather citizens’ input on ways to continue to develop and improve the downtown area. The association hosts several special downtown events such as the Celebration of the Arts Festival in June, Third Thursday Concert Series and an annual Easter egg hunt.

Cindy Sheldon, a member of the Fuquay-Varina Town Board of Commissioners, certainly knows all about the town’s appeal to families with young children. A mortgage loan officer with DHI Mortgage, she grew up in the town and graduated from Fuquay-Varina High School. She praises the town for its continual ability to balance the fast-paced growth with its strong historical past. “We are fortunate to have two thriving downtowns and still be attracting new commercial and retail growth,” Sheldon says. “We are still able to mix our small-town charm with all this new development. That is part of what makes Fuquay-Varina a special place to live today.”

Jane Paige is a Freelance Writer