ARB approves form, scale and massing; additional architectural and rezoning reviews remain 2-MINUTE BRIEF Topic: Center Street Redevelopment Location: 9007 Center Street, former MIFCO property Latest action: Architectural Review Board approval of form, scale and massing Proposal: Up to 169 apartments and a public parking garage with more than 500 spaces What remains: Additional architectural…
Electric, water, and sewer rates increased, while the Power Cost Adjustment rose sharply 2-Minute Brief What happened: Manassas residents opening their summer utility bills are seeing several sharp increases this month. For FY2027, the City increased its base electric rate by 10.5%, residential water rates by 25%, and sewer rates by about 3%. The electric…
Students, families and school employees welcome a fresh beginning The first day of school brings a special kind of excitement. There are new backpacks, carefully chosen outfits, nervous parents and children eager to see their friends. Teachers welcome a new class, bus drivers begin their routes and cafeteria workers prepare the first meals of the…
City of Manassas School Board Leaves AI Language Out of Student Code of Conduct 2 Min Brief Why it matters Artificial intelligence tools are becoming increasingly common in classrooms and student assignments, raising questions about when their use supports learning and when it crosses the line into plagiarism or cheating. The Manassas City School Board…
2 Min Brief Topic: Osbourn High School Baseball Recognition: 2025–26 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award By the numbers: Teams must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA during the academic year to qualify. Why it matters: Osbourn’s baseball players are earning recognition not only for their performance on the field, but also for their work…
2 Min Brief Topic: First Friday in Historic Downtown Manassas What happened: Thousands of residents and visitors filled downtown Friday for the Aug. 7 “Dog Days of Summer” First Friday, with live music, family activities, local businesses and dogs throughout Old Town. Why it matters: First Friday has become one of downtown Manassas’ most visible…
Judicial Center expansion puts a 117-year-old Manassas landmark at risk 2-Minute Brief Topic: Old Bennett School and the Prince William Judicial Center expansion Decision: The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted 7-1 on July 21 to authorize additional design work for the Judicial Center expansion. The County’s current plan calls for Old Bennett School…
2-Minute Brief Why it matters Virginia approved several housing changes in 2026 that will affect what can be built in Manassas and how much authority the City has over certain housing projects. Three separate policies are involved: ADU – Accessory Dwelling Unit A second dwelling on the same residential lot as a primary home,…
2-Minute Brief Why it matters One of the largest redevelopment projects proposed for Historic Downtown Manassas is moving through the City’s public review process. The proposal would redevelop two City-owned properties with new housing, a public parking garage and a future hotel. While several public meetings have already taken place, the project has not received all final…