Manassas is preparing to tap into $700,000 in state funding to clean up petroleum-contaminated soil beneath the former Manassas Ice and Fuel Company, Inc. (MIFCO) site. This will pave the way for a second public parking garage and a long-sought hotel development in the heart of downtown.
City leaders recently purchased the former MIFCO property next to City Hall for $3.1 million. Once home to an oil company, the site will eventually house a new multi-level parking garage—a critical component in revitalizing the city’s hotel plans following the 2023 demolition of the Old Towne Inn, which the city acquired for $5.75 million.
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A push by Councilmember Sonia Vasquez Luna to raise the business computer equipment tax rate met resistance Monday night, as the Manassas City Council instead chose to maintain the current rate of $2.15 per $100 of assessed value.
Vasquez Luna proposed aligning the computer equipment tax, data center tax, and personal property tax (vehicles) at a uniform $3.50 rate, saying it would offer consistency and potentially allow the city to reduce the tax burden on vehicle owners.
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Members of the Manassas City Council voiced support for efforts to keep teacher pay competitive with neighboring Prince William County Schools during a joint meeting with the city’s School Board on March 26, 2025—even as the city faces tighter fiscal limitations and a far smaller student population.
The meeting came one day after the School Board adopted its overall budget for the next fiscal year on March 25, which includes $60.9 million in funding for Manassas City Public Schools. While the budget already includes a 5.5% average pay raise for all school employees, School Board members said an additional $1.7 million would allow them to offer a 7% increase—matching the raise announced by Prince William County Schools.
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Drivers should expect delays on Route 28 (Centreville Road) as the Virginia Department of Transportation begins repairs to the bridge over Bull Run, located at the Fairfax County and Prince William County line.
Weather permitting, the work will involve single-lane closures between March 31 and April 24, during daytime hours:
Southbound Route 28 (Centreville Road) right lane closures:
- March 31–April 3
- April 7–10
- 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day
Northbound Route 28 right lane closures:
- April 14–17
- April 21–24
- 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day
VDOT advises drivers to seek alternate routes and use caution in work zones.
Manassas to Strike Bypass from Transportation Plans
The bridge repairs come just as the City of Manassas is working to officially remove the Route 28 Bypass project from its long-term transportation planning documents. During the March 24, 2025, City Council meeting, City Manager Steven Burke told elected leaders:
“We are developing opportunities for Council’s consideration regarding the elimination of the Route 28 Bypass Project.”
The bypass — once intended to redirect traffic away from city streets through a new highway in the floodplain west of Manassas — was canceled earlier this year after mounting environmental concerns, ballooning costs, and sustained community opposition. The bypass was slated to take over 50 homes by extending Godwin Drive across the Bull Run to Fairfax County.
Vega: “Let’s Widen the Road We Have”
Following the cancelation, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega issued a directive in late February urging local and state officials to focus on widening Route 28 along its current footprint rather than building new roadways.
“The people along Route 28 have waited long enough for relief,” Vega said. “Let’s widen the road we have.”
Vega’s proposal includes:
- Expanding the road to three lanes in each direction
- Installing new traffic signals
- Adding sidewalks and crosswalks to improve safety
- Vega also urged Prince William County transportation staff to redirect funding originally allocated for the bypass to the new widening plan, marking a significant shift in the region’s transportation priorities.
VRE Planning Tied to Route 28 Corridor
Meanwhile, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) coordinates closely with the SJR 28 Moves legislative subcommittee, which studies long-term transportation and transit options for the Route 28 corridor.
During its March board meeting, VRE staff said the agency’s System Plan 2050 will feed directly into the subcommittee’s recommendations, expected by the end of this year. The effort could result in legislation to fund multi-modal solutions, including bus and rail improvements, along the busy corridor.
More than a year after the city demolished the Olde Towne Inn, efforts are underway to improve the now vacant lot in the heart of downtown Manassas. The city recently announced a $160,000 project to convert the space into a temporary parking lot, a move that comes as plans for a new hotel on the site have stalled.
The Olde Towne Inn, which stood at 9405 Main Street, was purchased by the Manassas Economic Development Authority for $5.75 million in February 2023. The motel, a downtown staple for decades, was razed in November 2023 to make way for a new hotel or mixed-use development. However, financing issues and parking constraints have complicated efforts to attract developers.
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Veteran Tax Relief Sparks Heated Debate
During the March 17 meeting, comments from Commissioner of the Revenue Tim Demeria ignited strong reactions from residents and veterans. Demeria raised concerns about the increasing cost of tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans, pointing out that some beneficiaries own high-value homes and luxury vehicles. His remarks led to backlash from veterans, including Zach Murphy, who viewed them as dismissive of their service and sacrifices.
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Council approved the request based on nine conditions, none of which were based on parking, an issue in downtown Manassas. Pathway is anticipating a maximum capacity of 150 people each Sunday and must provide 38 parking spaces if one parking space is granted per four seats in a car. On-site, there are only 22 spaces available.
Audra Ovalle, a planner with the city, said because of the building's zone, there is no parking requirement.
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On March 5, the Manassas City Council held a closed-door session to discuss "terms and conditions for the disposition of publicly held real property" located at Nokesville Road and Godwin Drive, where the baseball complex sits. The meeting was held under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(3), which allows real estate negotiations to be discussed in private. Following the closed session, the council made no public statements regarding the discussion, leaving uncertainty about the future of the property.
In 2021, the City of Manassas granted Micron Technology an option to purchase the complex as part of the company’s potential expansion plans. The agreement allowed GMBL to continue using the fields for up to 24 months after a sale while the city explored alternative locations for the league. However, Micron never exercised the option, and the baseball league has remained in place.
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The Fredericksburg City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, to approve the Technology Overlay District (TOD), paving the way for data centers in Celebrate Virginia South. Today, the city revealed that Central Park developer The Silver Companies and STACK Infrastructure announced an agreement to build as many as 8-12 data sets in the city.
It marked the first time the public learned who would build and how many data centers would be built. The decision marks a shift in the city’s development strategy, prioritizing high-tech commercial investment over the previously envisioned mixed-use development.
