The Manassas City Council will delay action on a proposed affordable housing project at the former DMV site after cancelling its January 26, 2026, meeting.
The proposal will now move to the council’s February 9 meeting, where members are expected to resume consideration of selling city-owned land for the development.
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Key Takeaways
Date, time, place: Jan. 26, 2026, Manassas City Council meeting, Manassas City Hall (meeting cancelled)
- What happened: Manassas City Council cancelled its Jan. 26 meeting, delaying action on an affordable housing proposal at the former DMV site.
- Why it matters: The delay postpones a final vote on selling city-owned land for a controversial housing project that has drawn strong community interest.
- Who drove the news: Manassas City Council, which canceled the scheduled meeting.
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Full Coverage
The Manassas City Council was scheduled to consider the next step in an affordable housing proposal at the former Department of Motor Vehicles site at Godwin Drive and Gateway Boulevard during its January 26 meeting. That meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather, and all agenda items were deferred to February 9, according to the city.
The proposal centers on approximately three acres of city-owned land at the former DMV site, including a vacant 10,973-square-foot office building. The property is part of the broader Landing at Cannon Branch redevelopment area.
Good Housing VA, LLC, is proposing to build a four-story residential building with about 100 apartment units. City discussions have described the project as affordable, attainable, or workforce housing, with prior reporting indicating the units are aimed at households earning roughly 40% to 70% of the Area Median Income.
The development is expected to include a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. Based on earlier council materials and reporting, the project carries an estimated $35 million cost, and the developer has proposed purchasing the city-owned land for about $3 million under a formal Purchase and Sale Agreement.
City Council previously took action on December 8, 2025, when it held an advertised public hearing under Virginia law and approved Ordinance O-2026-443. That ordinance authorizes the conveyance of the property to Good Housing VA, LLC, and declares the sale to be in the public interest. Under the city procedure, the ordinance requires a second reading before it can take effect.
The project has become one of the most closely watched development proposals in Manassas. Nearby residents and community members have raised concerns about traffic, building height and density, and how affordability would be defined and enforced over time. Others have voiced support, pointing to the city’s stated goal of expanding housing options for workers priced out of the local market.
City leaders have tied the proposal to Manassas’s comprehensive plan and broader redevelopment goals for city-owned land near Gateway Boulevard.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Potomac Local News editors for accuracy and clarity.
