As construction continues on an Amazon Web Services data center on Technology Boulevard in Manassas, local businesses are raising concerns about the project's impacts on their operations. Among the most vocal is Mike Post, owner of Baker-Post Funeral Home, a 130-year staple of Manassas.
The server farm will be one of four in Manassas and will have three buildings. Post says that the construction has caused significant issues for his business. “The blasting has caused our sprinkler standpipe to shift in the ground, and a truck damaged our portico. It has cost me $2,900 in repairs,” he said. “There have been instances where the blasting has disrupted funeral [ceremonies]. During a funeral, a minister was giving a eulogy, and without any warning, they let off a giant explosion. Then, the fire alarm went off right after the blast and sounded throughout the funeral.”
Despite these challenges, Post says that the city has been largely indifferent to the struggles of existing businesses in the area. “It seems like the new city leadership is letting the data centers walk all over us,” he noted. “The old leadership would never have allowed this to happen. They understood the importance of protecting local businesses while managing growth.”
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Dill Dinker’s Pickleball, co-founded by Denise Richards and her husband Will, emerged from an unexpected but fortuitous shift in their lives. Like many others during the pandemic, the couple searched for ways to stay active and connected while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
After nearly two decades in outside sales, Denise discovered pickleball and quickly fell in love with the game. This passion ultimately laid the foundation for a thriving business that would soon expand nationwide.
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The Manassas Park Governing Body is scheduled to make a pivotal decision on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, regarding a proposed amendment that could alter the development sequence of the City Center at Manassas Park, known as Park Central. The amendment under consideration would allow the construction of 110 residential apartments before a promised office building, a shift from the original development agreement.
Initially, the development agreement required the construction of an office building before any residential units. However, due to changes in market conditions, particularly the downturn in demand for office space prompted by the increase in remote work, city officials are considering a change in strategy.
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Fredericksburg celebrated the grand opening of The Publisher Hotel, a significant new development by Vakos Real Estate Services. The event on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, drew local dignitaries and business leaders to the site of the former Free-Lance Star newspaper building.
Susan Spears, President and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce shared her enthusiasm during the ceremony. "The Publisher Hotel represents a major investment in our region," Spears said, commending Vakos Real Estate Services' consistent dedication to high-quality developments in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties.
Senator Tara Durant (R) highlighted the hotel's impact on the community. "This hotel is now the crown jewel of our historic downtown, enriching our community economically and culturally," said Durant. She praised the project as a symbol of growth and a testament to hard work.
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Prince William County has unveiled a new digital platform, PWC Works, designed to enhance transparency and communication between the local government and its residents. The initiative aims to provide real-time updates on county projects, address public concerns, and offer a streamlined way for citizens to track government actions, including long-standing issues such as permitting delays.
Tackling Permitting Delays
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Electra, a hybrid-electric aviation company, is considering Manassas as a potential location for a new production facility. According to City Councilman Mark Wolfe, this expansion could bring 1,500 jobs to the area, with average salaries of $100,000.
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Stafford County faces mixed reactions from the community regarding the proposed Buc-ee's development, a massive travel center known for its signature barbeque and Beaver Nuggets.
Buc-ee's has applied for a conditional use permit to build a 74,000-square-foot convenience store on 36 acres along Courthouse Road, next to Interstate 95 at exit 140, near the Embrey Mill neighborhood. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the new Buc-ee’s location will feature 120 gas pumps and could significantly alter the local landscape.
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The Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted 6-1 on Tuesday evening to approve a zoning reclassification for developing the Stafford Technology Campus, a project poised to reshape over 500 acres of land in the county’s Falmouth District. The decision reclassifies the lane from an A-1 Agricultural Zoning District to an M-2 Heavy Industrial Zoning District, clearing the way for one of the country's most significant developments. Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch voted against the rezoning.
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