Message from Tom Phillips, President, Historic Oak Crest
We're closing with a letter to you from a former WFU faculty member and longtime Oak Crest neighborhood resident:
Dear Students,
Welcome to the new academic year and welcome to the neighborhood. I appreciate that WFU Residence Life and Housing has provided the opportunity for me to share some thoughts with you. In choosing to live off campus and in proximity to the Wake Forest campus, you have the opportunity to enjoy quiet streets, beautiful trees, nice neighbors, and truly adult living.
Did you know that Oak Crest -- comprising the streets just to the north and south of Polo Road between campus and Reynolda Road -- celebrates its 100th year this year? Oak Crest is a National Historic Registry of Places neighborhood. Some of the residents of these streets actually have lived here since before the new Wake Forest campus was constructed in the 1950s!
A good many of us full-time residents have lived on our streets for thirty to forty years or more.
What can you do as a person and as a household to enjoy Oak Crest and also to be a responsible neighbor? Follow the expectations laid out in your off-campus orientation.
Your neighbors enjoy the vitality that students have brought to our neighborhood. In addition to providing the convenience of walking to classes, the neighborhood is a great place to recreate outside. Just be careful when biking or walking the streets (and walking pets on the streets) to be aware of cars. (In your own driving, note that the side street speed limit is 25 MPH. There have been injury accidents on our streets when people have driven too fast and too carelessly.)
Finally, some of you may have seen yard signs in the area urging "no new student housing in Oak Crest." Neighbors in our area enjoy the presence of students and respect your rights (and those of your landlord) to be here. Our concern has been focused on new housing developments that would not be in keeping with residential life in a National Historic Registry area.
A vast majority of neighbors in Oak Crest both like living here and are happy with, or at least understanding of, your presence here as well. We just want young adults (and all residents, owners, and renters) to understand the responsibilities of neighborhood living.
If you have issues with your landlord, questions about property maintenance, or want to learn more about Historic Oak Crest and the Oak Crest Neighborhood Association, please let us know. Write to me with any questions and I might answer at phillito@wfu.edu. Enjoy a happy, safe, successful year. Go Deacs!
Sincerely,
Tom Phillips
President, Historic Oak Crest
(retired Assoc. Dean of the College and teacher, WFU)
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