Real Estate Purchase Decision Near Manassas Shopping Center Deferred

MANASSAS, VA — A decision on a real estate purchase next to the Manassas Shopping Center was deferred by Manassas City Council on Monday. The council opted to reconsider the proposal at its next meeting.

The proposal is sending $725,000 of capital reserve funds to the Manassas Economic Development Authority to acquire a residential property at 9137 Portner Avenue. Given its location behind the Manassas Shopping Center, the property owner pitched it as a chance to incorporate the land into the Manassas Shopping Center redevelopment.

City Manager Steve Burke said the Manassas Economic Development Authority approved the acquisition at its last meeting and plan to include it into the redevelopment proposal that will be presented in September. Burke noted that the revenue of about $800,000 is going toward an $800,000 purchase of another adjacent residential property off Portner Avenue.

The deferral was due to the likelihood of not having enough votes with members absent. City Attorney Stephen Craig Brown said City Council needs four votes to approve appropriations.

Councilmember Theresa Coates Ellis expressed opposition to the city purchase.

"I did support the shopping center purchase because I saw the value and redevelopment in the future with the Mathis Avenue sector plan that we had years ago put in place as a beginning platform to do some changes in that part of the city," said Ellis. "I just don't see where this has anything to do with that. I guess you're trying to extend it over as a gateway for that property eventually. It was never put in the market, and it was just brought to the city, and I think that we have purchased enough right now."

Councilmember Ashley Hutson said the economic development's plans for the shopping center would be difficult to advance without this property.

Councilmember Ralph Smith added, "I understand EDA's need, both for the property and for the amendment to the budget, and I fully support it."

The city had acquired the Manassas Shopping Center in 2024 using $16 million in one-time American Rescue Plan Act and capital reserve funds. The shopping center has been plagued with increasing vacancies, and the city is looking into long-term redevelopment options for the property. The city government recently held two community meetings to gather public feedback on future uses of the city-purchased Manassas Shopping Center.

The city has made other recent real estate acquisitions, including the former Marsteller School property from Manassas Baptist Church in 2024 for several community uses and the Manassas Ice and Fuel Company properties in 2025.

After the City Council's deferral vote, several residents spoke during public comments against the property acquisition.

Manassas resident Nettie Stevens pointed to two additional lots on Sudley Road needed to connect the 9137 Portner Avenue property and the Manassas Shopping Center.

"You don't even know what you're going to do with the shopping center, and you're still going to buy more property," said Stevens.

Resident Tim Plevniak called for City Council to prioritize improving firefighter staffing over property acquisitions, noting the example of the assisted living fire in Massachusetts that killed nine people. The firefighters union had claimed not enough staffing was a factor in the fatalities.

"Take the money from the general fund and pay your firefighters to be on duty," said Plevniak. "We don't want to have any of these tragedies in our town."

Former City Councilmember Lynn Forkell Greene said the city is staffing the fire department properly, noting it has been in a transition from volunteer to full career firefighting. However, Forkell Greene spoke out against the funds for the property acquisition.

"One hundred percent, you would not use these dollars that are our tax dollars to buy down the tax rate, and yet you're going to freely write this check to the EDA," said Forkell Greene. "I think it's unconscionable, and think you really need to look at it."

City Council's next meeting is Monday, July 28.