Old Town Manassas’ Center Street Project: What to Watch Before September 28

Reported September 15, 2026 • Manassas City, Virginia

Old Town Manassas’ Center Street redevelopment is still a proposal, and September 28 is the next date residents should watch. The city lists a City Council public hearing that Monday—not a guaranteed final approval. The rezoning concerns apartments and structured parking at 9007 Center Street. Check the city’s current project timeline and documents.

Cover: AI-generated conceptual illustration of downtown housing and parking. It is not a photograph, approved design or rendering of this project.

My take: Old Town needs parking—and more housing choices

I think this could be huge for Old Town Manassas. Parking has always been an issue there, and I believe downtown needs more places for people to live, including more affordable options. Apartments can help broaden those choices.

That is my perspective—not a claim that the proposed apartments will all have below-market rents. Supporting the idea and asking hard questions about how it works can go together.

The opportunity I see is simple: make it easier to visit downtown and easier for more people to live near the places they enjoy. A garage should help people reach the sidewalk, not become the whole experience.

What has moved forward—and what has not

Potomac Local’s September 14 headline reports a Planning Commission recommendation with conditions. A recommendation is not the same as Council approval or a construction start.

The city identifies the rezoning as REZ-2026-0002. Its timeline also records August 13 architectural approvals for form, scale and massing. Those are specific design approvals, not a substitute for the remaining process. The city says its earlier interim agreement does not obligate it to construction or a final comprehensive development agreement. Source: City of Manassas project page, reviewed September 15.

I am leaving apartment totals out of this update rather than carrying an older proposal’s numbers into a revised design. The current hearing materials should be the reference for unit counts, parking allocation and any affordability commitments.

The design question is bigger than the number of stories

In its July design update, the city described wider setbacks and sidewalks, upper floors recessed four to ten feet above the third story, and proposed green space west of the Meredith House. Read the city’s explanation of the design revisions.

Those details matter because a building can look very different at sidewalk level than it does in an aerial rendering. My practical test would be the walk: where do you leave the garage, cross vehicle access and reach a storefront? Does that route feel obvious and comfortable?

The same applies to scale. A useful discussion considers the view from the opposite sidewalk, the upper-floor setbacks and the relationship to neighboring buildings—not just a single height headline.

Thinking about buying or selling near Old Town? Contact me to talk through the location and your plans, without treating a proposed development as a promise about your home’s value.

Four questions worth taking to the hearing

• What is the net public parking benefit? Ask how many spaces visitors can actually use, what existing parking would be replaced, and how resident spaces would be separated or shared.
• What happens during construction? Ask about temporary parking, deliveries, sidewalks and access to existing businesses.
• What does “affordable” mean in this proposal? Ask whether any homes would have enforceable income or rent restrictions, how many, and for how long. New apartments and designated affordable apartments are not interchangeable claims.
• How will the street function? Ask to see pedestrian entrances, vehicle access, loading and the street-level design together.

These are questions to resolve, not answers I am claiming the project already provides. Before attending, use the official city project page to check the latest agenda, meeting details and participation instructions. Dates can change.

For the broader lifestyle decision, explore my Manassas-area neighborhood guide. If you are comparing places across the region, get my free Northern Virginia relocation guide to organize your next steps.

Five quick questions about the Center Street proposal

1. Has the project received final approval?

Do not treat it as fully approved. The city’s current schedule lists a Council hearing ahead, and the reported Planning Commission recommendation is a separate step.

2. Where is the proposal?

At 9007 Center Street in Old Town Manassas, within Manassas City. It is not the separate Innovation Town Center development.

3. Does September 28 guarantee a final vote?

No. The verified event is a public hearing on September 28, 2026. Check the official agenda for the actions scheduled and participation details.

4. Will all the apartments be affordable housing?

That is not established here. My support for more affordable choices should not be read as a verified rent promise or a claim that every unit is income-restricted.

5. Will this raise nearby home values?

No specific value change can be promised from a proposal. For an individual property, evaluate comparable sales, condition, location and the eventual project details separately.

Let’s talk about your next move

If downtown living—or selling a home nearby—is on your radar, contact me about your Manassas plans. We can separate what is proposed from what is available now and focus on the choices that fit you.

Chris Colgan
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