Manassas Shopping Center Meeting Planned After Redevelopment Concepts Presented

MANASSAS, VA — Manassas residents will be able to provide feedback at a community meeting after draft redevelopment concepts were proposed for the Manassas Shopping Center.

The Manassas Economic Development Authority first presented the concepts to Manassas City Council during a joint meeting on Oct. 14. The city has now scheduled the next community conversation meeting on Nov. 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City of Manassas Community Center, 8750 Sudley Rd., Manassas, VA. The meeting will focus on feedback from previous community conversations in June and how it led to the two draft redevelopment concepts. Registration is requested to attend.

The city is exploring long-term uses for the Manassas Shopping Center at 9018 Mathis Avenue after purchasing it in 2024. In the short term, the economic development authority is overseeing the site and leases for commercial tenants.

Mixed-use development could be in the cards for the long term. The two draft redevelopment concepts focus on mixed-use development with multifamily units, townhouses, retail, green space and parking spaces. Both concepts include affordable housing.

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For concept A, 122 multifamily units, 42 townhouses, 51,600 square feet of retail and 338 parking spaces are envisioned. Concept B calls for 129 multifamily units, the same number of townhouses as Concept A, 58,500 square feet of retail and 373 parking spaces.

Those concepts come after two community conversations meetings with public feedback. According to the presentation, community feedback showed a desire for mixed-use development, a range of housing types with affordability, new and relocated shopping and dining options, a range of heights around two to four floors, improved connectivity around the site and green space.

The presentation notes challenges with the current site like a car-oriented transition between residential and commercial areas, limited walkability, split ownership of a shared alley on the western edge, the need for a buffer from O’Reilly Auto Parts. A rezoning would be required for the site to allow for residential uses. The active leases at the shopping center could also require phased development.

However, the presentation said opportunities for the site include a potential gateway to downtown Manassas, mixed-use development as a transition between residential and commercial areas, new street connections from Mathis Ave to Portner Ave to improve access and walkability., improved pedestrian and bicyclist links to sites like Annaburg Manor and Liberia House, and potential for a central community gathering space.

There is no firm timeline for redeveloping the site. The $16 million purchase of Manassas Shopping Center in 2024 came from the city's one-time American Rescue Plan Act and capital reserve funds in the fiscal 2025 budget.