MANASSAS, Va. – On Monday, July 14, the Manassas City Council is expected to vote on transferring $725,000 from its capital reserves to the city’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) for the purchase of another property behind the Manassas Shopping Center.
If approved, the transfer would fund the EDA’s second acquisition this year from J.E. Rice, Inc., for land on Portner Avenue. The pending deal comes as part of a years-long land acquisition strategy that city officials say supports redevelopment and public services, but one that has drawn increasing criticism for its lack of transparency.
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During a June 16, 2025, City Council work session, members reviewed draft guidelines that would formally enable the city to consider proposals under Virginia’s Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act. The move is seen as key to advancing the stalled transformation of the 9400 block of Main Street, where the city has acquired several key parcels but has yet to break ground on new development.
City Manager Steve Burke told the council the guidelines provide flexibility for developers to work with the city on projects that involve publicly owned land or infrastructure—especially the anticipated parking garage and municipal annex.
“This gives the development community more tools to bring creative solutions to the table,” said Burke. “It’s not a requirement, but it creates options that didn’t exist before.”
The City Council is expected to vote on the adoption of the P3 guidelines at its June 23, 2025, regular meeting.
The initiative centers on three properties:
- The former Olde Towne Inn, purchased by the city’s Economic Development Authority in February 2023 for $5.75 million
- The Manassas Ice and Fuel Company (MIFCO) site, acquired in January 2025 for $3.1 million
- An adjacent city-owned parking lot
In October 2023, the city demolished the aging Olde Towne Inn building, and in the months since, it has converted the lot into a temporary public parking area to support downtown businesses.
Last fall, the city unveiled plans for a 110-room Hilton Tapestry Collection hotel, featuring a rooftop bar and ground-floor retail. However, progress has stalled, in part due to a lack of structured parking to support hotel guests and other anticipated users.
In April, the city announced it had secured a $700,000 state grant to help clean up petroleum-contaminated soil at the MIFCO site to prepare it for a multi-level parking garage.
The newly proposed P3 guidelines are intended to invite proposals that would allow developers to integrate public and private uses—such as building and managing a hotel, leasing parking spaces, or redeveloping civic facilities—all while ensuring the city retains public benefit and long-term control over key assets.
During the work session, Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis called the document “well done,” and emphasized the importance of protecting the long-term vision of downtown for future councils.
Councilman Tom Osina asked whether a P3 model could enable the city to maintain ownership of the parking garage while giving developers enough incentive to build on adjacent parcels. Burke confirmed that was the intent, noting such models could also enhance developers’ access to financing by demonstrating city commitment.
Councilwoman Sonia Vasquez Luna expressed optimism but urged caution. “We want to make sure this improves Old Town, not hurts our small businesses,” she said.
Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger voiced support: “We need to use every tool in the toolbox to make this project a reality.”
If the guidelines are adopted, the city will issue a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting developers to submit comprehensive plans. Proposals could include hotel, residential, retail, or civic components and must clearly identify benefits to the public.
City officials emphasized that the guidelines do not bind the city to accept any proposal—it merely opens the legal pathway to negotiate if a promising concept is submitted.
The Council agreed the process will offer more flexibility and transparency, particularly as the city retains ownership of the annex and parking areas that are central to downtown’s long-term success.
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At the Monday night meeting, Manassas City Council unanimously approved its fiscal year 2026 budget, totaling more than $512 million and following months of meetings.
The budget will take effect on July 1; though the real estate tax rate will remain flat at $1.07 per $100 of assessed value, property assessments are increasing an average of 8%. The average increase for a homeowner's tax bill is expected to be about $406 starting July 1.
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Starting July 1, 2025, your monthly bills in Manassas will look a little different—mostly upward. The city is planning to raise utility rates and emergency service fees to support its budget for the next fiscal year.
Let’s break it down so you don’t have to squint at a spreadsheet 🧾:
🔌 Electric Bills Are Getting a Jolt
- Residential customers will see:
- Monthly base charge: up from $15.18 to $16.17
- Energy charge per kWh: $0.0924 to $0.0984
It’s a 6.5% increase across the board, whether you’re running a household or a business.
đźš° Water Costs Are Flowing Higher
Your residential water bill is going up by 8.5%:
- Monthly charge: $10.94 → $11.87
- First 5,000 gallons: $3.50 → $3.80 per 1,000 gallons
- Over 12,000 gallons in summer: $3.87 → $4.20
Even if you aren’t watering the lawn, expect to feel this.
đźš˝ Sewer Rates Are Creeping Up, Too
Only by 3%, but still noticeable:
- Monthly sewer charge: $9.87 → $10.17
- Most flow charges up about 10–15 cents per 1,000 gallons
For families, this adds up over time.
đźš‘ Calling an Ambulance? Expect a Bigger Bill
Manassas is raising EMS transport fees significantly:
- Basic Life Support: $500 → $800
- Advanced Life Support Level 2: $800 → $1,200
- Mileage: $13 → $15 per mile
Even in emergencies, it pays to know the cost.
🏠What About Property Taxes?
Your property tax rate isn’t going up—but the city expects to collect nearly $6.6 million more. Translation? Assessments likely went up. So your bill might, too.
✨ What Else Is Going Up?
The city is also raising fees for:
- Fire permits
- Recreation programs
- Airport hangars and rentals
🏗️ Why All the Increases?
It’s all part of a $513 million budget that includes:
- More funding for public schools (+$32M)
- Boosts to water and sewer infrastructure
- Investment in city vehicles, tech, and maintenance
The city also plans to rely less on savings to pay its bills next year.
📆 Want to weigh in? The public hearing is Monday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
đź’¬ Let me know in the comments: How do you feel about the new rates? Is this investment worth the cost?
MANASSAS, Va. – With construction underway and a private operator on board, Manassas is inching closer to launching commercial airline service from its regional airport. But after years of planning, the first flights won’t take off until 2026—a full year later than initially planned.
At a City Council work session on May 20, 2025, airport officials shared updates on infrastructure and federal regulatory changes that pushed the timeline. The newest airport master plan outlines major upgrades like a new terminal and improved airfield layout to accommodate commercial jets and future growth.
“We started this process back in 2021,” said Airport Director Juan Rivera, noting how commercial service shifted the city’s aviation strategy. “When we had enough information, we came forth… [and] the airport will now become a commercial service airport.”
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MANASSAS, Va. – Virginia Railway Express (VRE) unveiled a sweeping set of changes coming to its downtown Manassas station, promising major improvements in safety, accessibility, and future service flexibility. The update came during a presentation to the Manassas City Council on May 20, 2025.
“This project will help us to separate many of those elements—vehicular and train traffic, pedestrian and train traffic,” said Dallas Richards, VRE’s Deputy CEO and Chief Engineer. “All are good things, but when they mix, it's not such a good thing.”
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MANASSAS, Va. – The City of Manassas is moving forward with plans for a new extended-stay hotel at the Landing at Cannon Branch. At a May 20, 2025, work session, the City Council reviewed architectural plans for a Home2 Suites by Hilton, a four-story, 100-room hotel that will become the second Hilton-branded property in the development.
The architectural review, required under the terms of the city’s rezoning of the property, drew general support from council members. Several praised the design and raised questions about site access, signage, and parking for the new hotel, which will sit adjacent to the existing Tru by Hilton.
“We are here to solicit your approval for the architectural design of this property,” said City Manager Steve Burke. Councilman Ralph Smith added, “For the record, I like the color scheme.”
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MANASSAS, Va. – A plan to allow backyard chickens within city limits has stalled after the Manassas City Council chose not to move forward during its May 20, 2025, work session.
The proposal resurfaced after growing public interest over the past year. Manassas previously explored the idea in 2021 but paused it amid concerns over noise, odor, neighborhood impacts, and enforcement challenges. Under current rules, chicken coops must be 250 feet from neighboring homes — making them nearly impossible on most residential lots.
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MANASSAS, Va. – City leaders say they were surprised to learn that the first tenant of the newly opened Brickyard Data Center on Godwin Drive won’t contribute to the city’s business personal property tax base as expected.
The data center, operated by Digital Realty Trust, opened earlier this year. Officials had projected millions in tax revenue from computer equipment expected to fill the site. But when tax paperwork arrived on April 14, 2025, city officials learned the first tenant is a bank—an industry that is exempt from paying business personal property taxes under Virginia law.
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MANASSAS, Va. – Manassas leaders agreed Monday night to keep the city’s tax rate steady for the upcoming fiscal year, despite calls from some on the City Council to lower it and give homeowners a break.
While the tax rate isn’t changing, rising property values mean most homeowners will still see bigger tax bills when they arrive later this year.
The council voted 5-1 to hold the real estate tax rate at $1.26 per $100 of assessed value, the same rate residents paid last year. That rate, combined with increased property assessments across the city, is expected to raise the average annual tax bill by about $406, according to city budget documents.
Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis cast the lone “no” vote, pushing for at least a 7-cent rate cut to keep bills flat. Councilwomen Sonia Vasquez Luna and Ashley Hutson also voiced interest in a smaller cut but ultimately voted to keep the rate unchanged.
“I just want to make sure that you feel heard,” Vasquez Luna told residents during the meeting. “We all want to reduce the financial burden on families. But high-quality services come at a cost.”
Council members supporting the flat rate pointed to growing costs for schools, police, fire services, and city workers. The adopted budget includes:
-
$1.5 million more for Manassas City Public Schools to help cover teacher and staff pay raises.
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Funding for five new public safety positions, including three firefighters.
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3% pay raises for city employees.
Vice Mayor Mark D. Wolfe defended the decision, noting that Manassas still has lower average tax bills and utility rates than most of Northern Virginia, even with the increase.
“You can’t have a great community with shrinking resources,” Wolfe said. “This budget invests in public safety, education, infrastructure, and quality of life.”
The council also unanimously approved keeping the personal property tax rate at $3.60 per $100, applying the same rate to data center computer equipment for the first time. Council members noted that this move brings Manassas in line with Prince William County’s rates but keeps small business equipment taxed at a lower $2.15 per $100.
Several residents urged the council to cut more, pointing to the strain of inflation and rising living costs. Others raised concerns about the city’s long-term reliance on new development and data centers to balance its budget.
The city will hold a public hearing on the full budget June 2, with a final vote scheduled for June 9.
