Baxter Walker
Executive Vice President at Colliers International
I moved to Holly Springs in 2003, after growing up in Cary. My wife and I were looking for a great place to raise a family, but still be close to where we worked. We decided to move out a little further from Raleigh to Holly Springs.
Additionally, I joined the Commercial Real Estate industry in 2004. It has definitely been an exciting whirlwind of a career so far. I have never worked in residential real estate, but I have been told repeatedly that commercial real estate is different than residential since it has less emotion in the decision-making process. I have since learned that this couldn’t be more wrong. It’s been incredible to have the opportunity to work with small business owners that are striving to start a business. I’ve also worked with large corporations who have assigned an employee with the site selection. Commercial real estate has allowed me to have a direct impact on people’s lives, and it has been very rewarding. I always get excited telling stories about my clients and how successful they have become. To be a small part of their next level of success is why I do what I do.
I have been honored to serve on many local committees and boards. I served on the Holly Springs Board of Adjustment from 2010-2015. I’ve also served on the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for two terms.
My dad was the Postmaster in Holly Springs in the 90s and still has a great reputation in the community. I am fortunate that we share the same name and I can only hope to live up to it by carrying on his local legacy of being friendly and dependable.
If you could write one law for Holly Springs, what would it be?
Social media has become such a vehicle to express an opinion. I feel that if it can be written on Facebook, it can be said face-to-face, specifically when it comes to “concerns” with growth, traffic, etc. I admire those who are active and attend public hearings and let their voices be heard. That’s the way to truly have an impact.
What restaurant has your go-to meal, and what is it?
I prefer the locally-owned restaurants. Anyone who knows me knows that My Way Tavern is one of my go-to places. They have a great root beer float. I’m not sharing my other favorite menu item because I don’t want them to run out. As a family outing, we love going to Acme Pizza. The food is incredible and they have an incredible staff that truly cares about their customers. The stromboli is my go-to meal at Acme!
What is your favorite thing about Holly Springs?
In my opinion, Holly Springs has the perfect balance of a small town feel and large town amenities. It’s common to run into someone you know when out and about, plus we now have mostly what we need without having to go to Cary or Raleigh.
What store or restaurant would you like to see come to Holly Springs?
I am excited about the idea of Lowes Home Improvement coming to Holly Springs. I am bit of a “do it yourself” guy around the house and having this close by will make my weekends even more productive. I do want to continue to support Ace Hardware when possible as they have excellent customer service. I am also excited about the opportunity for a hotel. People that visit Holly Springs need to stay overnight in Holly Springs, to eat and shop here while in town and truly get the full experience.
How do you feel Holly Springs ranks on a scale of 1 to 10? Why?
Based on my experience living and working here, this town has come a long way in a short period of time. I would give it a 10 in regards to its intention and path to become the best town it can be, and an 8 in its current form because there is always opportunity to become even better.
What’s the best thing to come to Holly Springs since you’ve lived here?
This area has become more enriched by the creative community. As an artist myself, it is cool to see the talent that is within our community. The Holly Springs Cultural Center has great events and the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce Artisan Market is perfect for local artists and crafters to show off their talent.
Is growth good or bad for Holly Springs, and why?
This is always a hot topic in a growing town. The growth is a direct result of each of us moving here. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of wanting the gates shut after moving to an area. We each moved here for different reasons and other families will continue to do so. One of the benefits of more rooftops is having more restaurants and shopping opportunities as a result. Plus, new businesses looking to locate in Holly Springs appreciate the fact that there are places nearby for their employees to eat lunch. Also, more and more businesses are wanting to be located where their employees live, not necessarily where the decision-maker lives. This has been a trend which I’ve witnessed over the last five years. Thus, providing a self-sustaining community. In my opinion, it comes down to a specific project and if (in its proposed form) it is good for that specific area. This is where feedback at public hearings is vital for Holly Springs to grow into the town that we all want it to be.
Does the benefit of growth outweigh the hassle of the increased traffic?
Years ago, I heard the phrase “You aren’t in traffic. You are traffic.” We each contribute to the increased traffic and it is as much a result of the overall growth of southwest Wake County as it is in Holly Springs. Many municipalities have the same issues. Apex deals with our traffic. Morrisville deals with Cary traffic. We deal with Fuquay-Varina traffic. Each town struggles with the right solution to provide adequate safety and traffic flow, along with working with the partnership with NCDOT and plus keeping within budget. Many towns also have an opportunity for a loop which circulates traffic. Cary with Maynard Road, Apex with nearly complete Apex Peakway, Fuquay-Varina with nearly complete Judd Parkway. And, of course, Raleigh with the 440 Beltline and 540 Outer Loop. Holly Springs doesn’t have this option due the town’s existing road infrastructure and other parameters. This puts extra strain on the main corridors such as Highway 55, Main Street, and Holly Springs Road. I have had many conversations with the town regarding my thoughts (good and bad) on the traffic issue. In my opinion, Holly Springs has done an excellent job in handling the challenges it faces regarding traffic.
What’s your favorite time of year in Holly Springs and why?
Springtime in Holly Springs is great. This is such an incredible area for kids and outside sports. With all of the families out of their houses, the activity in the area really comes to life!
Do you plan to move from Holly Springs at some point?
We love living in Holly Springs and don’t foresee moving anytime soon. If we do, it’s because I need room to restore some old cars.
Erica Anderson
Broker/Owner, Realtor of Team Anderson Realty
In November 2008, my husband and I moved to Apex, NC from Florida. We bought our first home in Holly Springs in March, 2009, and have called this area “home” ever since. I obtained my real estate license in 2009 and subsequently, in 2015, started my own firm as owner and Broker-In-Charge of Team Anderson Realty right in The Village District of downtown Holly Springs. My husband owns Anderson Chiropractic Center which is also located in the Village District. We have two loving children, Alexandra, age 8, and Alaric, age 2.
If you could write one law for Holly Springs, what would it be? The one law I would write is that the new construction on Main Street and Downtown Holly Springs be made to look “old world” in terms of their elevation. I would like to see a bit of European charm with a mix of brick and stone and organic looking elements. I really think that if we made the new construction look “old world” and charming, it would bring an even more historic, timeless Downtown feel to Holly Springs.
What restaurant has your go-to meal, and what is it? The Mason Jar never disappoints me! I absolutely love their flank steak salad. I get the steak cooked medium rare and the apples and walnuts with vinaigrette dressing add sweetness and tang to this delicious salad. I really love a solid amount of protein when I eat, and this dish feels lean and has ample protein, from the spinach leaves to the steak itself.
What is your favorite thing about Holly Springs? I love the variety of family friendly events that the Town of Holly Springs sponsors. The abundance of parks with walking trails and playgrounds add to the family friendly atmosphere and promotes health and fitness. There is also close access to major thoroughfares such as Highway 1 and 540, making it easy to get to the metropolitan areas, such as Downtown Raleigh and SouthPoint Mall in Durham. The highly ranked schools are an added bonus with Thales as a local private school option.
What store or restaurant would you like to see come to Holly Springs? I would love to see an all sushi restaurant come into Holly Springs. We have a lot of diverse choices in restaurants, but not a restaurant dedicated solely to sushi lovers.
How do you feel Holly Springs ranks on a scale of 1 to 10? Why? To me, Holly Springs ranks as a 9, but is heading quickly to be a solid 10+. Because Holly Springs is in a growth phase, I did not want to say it is a 10, because seeing it in 5 or more years will likely blow away what we currently have in place now. It’s exciting to see all the well planned construction developments, and as more people move to the area, that will bring a richer variety of dining choices, more music events, and possibly even a performing arts center.
What’s the best thing to come to Holly Springs since you’ve lived here, and why?
The shopping and restaurant choices, including, but not limited to Thanks a Latte, Swoon, Target, Marshalls, Hallmark, The Mason Jar, MyWay Tavern, and Pier One Imports as well as the local movie theatre are the best things to come so far. When I first moved here, the Harris Teeter shopping center was just being started and having that was nice, but I do like that I no longer have to venture into Cary or the surrounding areas, such as Apex, for some of my other shopping and dining needs.
Is growth good or bad for Holly Springs, and why? This is a controversial topic for this town, and I believe there will always be proponents and opponents for growth. When we first moved to this town, over 10 years ago, we wanted the town to grow. What brought us here was the overall value in home prices versus the surrounding areas, but we did feel that it was missing certain amenities in the immediate area. Fast forward a decade, and we have truly enjoyed the diverse choices in restaurants, shopping, etc. that have been opening around town. I believe that growth is good for Holly Springs and that the reason why it is ranked so highly nationally is because of the growth and amenities that have been created for its residents.
Does the benefit of growth outweigh the hassle of the increased traffic? I personally believe that timing is everything with the traffic. If you can time your driving schedule around it, it is much less aggravating of a commute and some of the back roads yield additional time savings. Generally, I do believe that the overall growth outweighs the hassle of the increased traffic. I also believe that future strategic infrastructure changes could also alleviate some of the congestion as well.
What’s your favorite time of year in Holly Springs and why? Christmas is hands down my favorite time of year in Holly Springs. They add the lights on the light poles, the Christmas parade in Downtown Holly Springs is charming, and the winter festivities are always enjoyed by myself and my children.
Do you plan to move from Holly Springs at some point? Considering that my business is now in Downtown Holly Springs, it is safe to say I will be staying here for a very long time. The only reason I would move is to retire in the Smoky Mountains!
Brenda Priest
Artist/Illustrator with Your Door & More
The Priest Family has lived in Holly Springs for 20 years in October. We moved from Cary because we wanted a larger lot, neighbors we knew, and a place to raise a family. We built in Holly Glen when Wake County purchased land for the Holly Grove/HSHS school campus.
If you could write one law for Holly Springs, what would it be? Speeding fines increased – we are all driving too fast and not paying attention.
What restaurant has your go-to meal, and what is it? Chick-fil-A
What is your favorite thing about Holly Springs?
The hometown feel, surrounding farmland and the trees.
What store or restaurant would you like to see come to Holly Springs? Some kind of entertainment for teenagers.
How do you feel Holly Springs ranks on a scale of 1 to 10? Why? It had been a 10 when we moved here but there is too much residential construction eating up the beautiful land. Now it is a 7.
What’s the best thing to come to Holly Springs since you’ve lived here, and why? The downtown. There was no draw to the charming village district. With the addition of Town Hall Commons and The Block, we will become a destination, instead of a drive-thru town.
Is growth good or bad for Holly Springs, and why? It was left unchecked too long and too much residential construction was approved and now the infrastructure is catching up. We can’t lock the town gates just because it is busy but more CONTROLLED GROWTH is needed.
Does the benefit of growth outweigh the hassle of the increased traffic? The traffic is a concern but we both work from home and have the benefit of commuting up a flight of stairs.
What’s your favorite time of year in Holly Springs and why? Fall because of the change of season – a break from the heat of summer. I love attending HollyFest, seeing old friends and neighbors. When our children were younger, the Parade was the highlight of the year and the Christmas activities/lights.
Do you plan to move from Holly Springs at some point? Yes, once our one daughter has finished high school, we will re-evaluate moving.
David Chapman
Founder of 919 Marketing Company
If you could write one law for Holly Springs, what would it be? No parking on residential streets overnight.
What restaurant has your go-to meal, and what is it? Cristo’s – Granma’s pizza.
What is your favorite thing about Holly Springs?
The relaxed cozy vibe (once you get off the roads).
What store or restaurant would you like to see come to Holly Springs? REI
How do you feel Holly Springs ranks on a scale of 1 to 10? Why?
8 – compared to where we were 20 years ago.
What’s the best thing to come to Holly Springs since you’ve lived here, and why? The baseball park and fields.
Is growth good or bad for Holly Springs, and why?
Of course it’s a double edged sword – more amenities, better roads, nicer downtown and of course urban sprawl and higher taxes.
Does the benefit of growth outweigh the hassle of the increased traffic? Depends on what kind of growth you are referring to. If it’s a mix of commercial and residential, then yes.
What’s your favorite time of year in Holly Springs and why?
The Fall for sure – I love the crisp air and beautiful leaves until they need to be blown to the street.
Do you plan to move from Holly Springs at some point?
I will always have a place here if my wife has anything to do with it – so you know the answer is I will live here until she decides it’s time to move on.
