As you drive around the City, you should notice several street improvement projects and developments underway in Manassas. Many of these are a result of the City’s intentional focus on improving its commercial corridors. Our residents have asked us to place a strategic focus on this and the City Council and staff are responding.
This strategic effort to improve the City’s commercial corridors is spurring redevelopment and private sector investment. Through its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and targeted Economic Development programs, the City is creating more accessible, attractive streetscapes where residents – and especially businesses – want to be.
On Dumfries Road, the City’s Engineering Department recently finished construction of a new shared-use path and roadway improvements from Donner Drive to Hastings. The construction project, which greatly improves bicycle and pedestrian connectivity along the Dumfries Road corridor, has already helped spur private investment in the area. These new and expanding businesses include the new Hog Shack Bar-B-Q restaurant in the Dominion Square Shopping Center, the Goddard School and Learning Center daycares, and Habitat for Humanity’s office expansion at the corner of Hastings and Dumfries Road. In addition to visual appeal and connectivity, the project also enhances public safety. Similar roadway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvements are in the works along Gateway Boulevard, Portner Avenue, Godwin Drive, and Wellington Road.
On Grant Avenue, the City is under construction on significant streetscape improvements that will create an appealing gateway to the Historic Downtown and reduce through traffic. The final concept includes lane reductions and streetscape enhancements that will create a multi-modal boulevard along Grant Avenue (similar to the appearance of the streetscape on Grant Avenue between Church Street and Sudley Road). Every time the City undertakes a complete-streets project, it includes burying any overhead power lines that are in the area. More than 83% of the City’s electric infrastructure is now below ground – beautifying our commercial and residential roadways and dramatically increasing reliability.
It’s no surprise then that the private sector is already eyeing Grant Avenue for investment as well. Van Metre Homes just received approval to build a 233-home development between Grant Avenue and Main Street. This project will provide much needed housing for City residents but also includes assuming a portion of the cost for its Grant Avenue improvements and adds additional public park and green space close to Downtown.
In that same area along Prince William Street, the City recently finished another complete-streets project and several commercial businesses have redeveloped lots along the railroad tracks. Dreamfinder Homes is well underway on the new Jefferson Square subdivision there that includes 105 single family attached and detached homes.
Mathis Avenue between Sudley Road and City limits near the Central Library will be the City’s next major streetscape improvement project. This project is included in the CIP and is currently in the 30% design phase. Public outreach and meetings will begin late February. Although still in early design, the City envisions replacing the center turn lane with a landscaped median, creating a landscaped verge between the curb and sidewalk, closing and consolidating entrances to the various commercial parcels, larger sidewalks, and decorative hardware like light poles and benches. This will greatly improve pedestrian connectivity in the area (which is currently vehicle-centric) as well as improving the appearance of a commercial corridor desperately in need of beautification. Similar to the public investments along Dumfries, Grant, and Prince William Street it is expected there will be significant new investment in the privately-owned commercial properties, many of which present the opportunity for mixed-use development and mid-rise construction.
The City leadership is hopeful these investments in the community will continue to have the public support they have enjoyed to date. Manassas really does take the Citizen Satisfaction Surveys and other public input it receives very seriously. If you like what you’re seeing, let us know. You can do this by submitting comments electronically to Mayor and Council, by appearing at our regular Council meetings, or by mailing us a letter which may be read at a public meeting. You can also keep all these improvements in mind the next time you receive the Citizen Satisfaction Survey and score them accordingly.