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In the News

Meltdown in Manassas Park

The small Virginia city embarked on a massive works project to rebuild, refurbish and renovate its public buildings. Then the housing bust hit.

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July 19, 2012

Kathy Miller, 62, swims in the pool inside the Manassas Park Community Center. She said she has been coming to the pool since the community center opened. It's always empty, she said, so she gave up her expensive health-club membership.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Susan Hynes plays with her dog, Rydell, at the Manassas Park Community Center Dog Park.

July 20, 2012

Susan Hynes plays with her dog, Rydell, at the Manassas Park Community Center Dog Park.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Marcel Varela watches his German shepherd, Falko, play tug of war with Susan Hynes’s dog, Rydell.

July 20, 2012

Marcel Varela watches his German shepherd, Falko, play tug of war with Susan Hynes’s dog, Rydell.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

A sign welcomes drivers to Manassas Park along Manassas Drive. The city of Manassas Park has been trying to recover from the housing bust. One in four homeowners went into foreclosure, and many others have been underwater on their mortgages. Median home prices tumbled as much as 60 percent.

July 25, 2012

A sign welcomes drivers to Manassas Park along Manassas Drive. The city of Manassas Park has been trying to recover from the housing bust. One in four homeowners went into foreclosure, and many others have been underwater on their mortgages. Median home prices tumbled as much as 60 percent.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Coaches Eric Gaza, center, and Paul Bessette share a laugh as their teams practice next to the Manassas Park Community Center. They coach for the Manassas Park Travel Baseball League.

July 20, 2012

Coaches Eric Gaza, center, and Paul Bessette share a laugh as their teams practice next to the Manassas Park Community Center. They coach for the Manassas Park Travel Baseball League.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Thelma Wampler stands outside her parents' home in Manassas Park. She lives with her mother and father, who are retired. Along with the city of Manassas and surrounding Prince William County, Manassas Park experienced some of the region’s sharpest swings in home prices and highest foreclosure rates.

July 19, 2012

Thelma Wampler stands outside her parents' home in Manassas Park. She lives with her mother and father, who are retired. Along with the city of Manassas and surrounding Prince William County, Manassas Park experienced some of the region’s sharpest swings in home prices and highest foreclosure rates.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

A bank-owned property on Arnie Court. The home sits a block from General’s Ridge Golf Course. The city of Manassas Park is trying to recover from the effects of the housing bubble.

July 19, 2012

A bank-owned property on Arnie Court. The home sits a block from General’s Ridge Golf Course. The city of Manassas Park is trying to recover from the effects of the housing bubble.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Manassas Park residents Aron and April Wittig wash their dog, Jake. With them are their daughters, Gracelyn, on the porch, and Alexis, riding her bike.

July 25, 2012

Manassas Park residents Aron and April Wittig wash their dog, Jake. With them are their daughters, Gracelyn, on the porch, and Alexis, riding her bike.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Early train riders on the Washington-bound Virginia Railway Express board at the Manassas Park station.

July 19, 2012

Early train riders on the Washington-bound Virginia Railway Express board at the Manassas Park station.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Locals at Clarke's Grill and Sports Emporium in Manassas Park. The city of Manassas Park is trying to recover from the housing bust.The plunge in its property tax revenue has been compounded by its debt, now at $131 million.

July 20, 2012

Locals at Clarke's Grill and Sports Emporium in Manassas Park. The city of Manassas Park is trying to recover from the housing bust.The plunge in its property tax revenue has been compounded by its debt, now at $131 million.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

In City Center, a retail and residential development completed in 2009, most of the apartments are occupied but almost all of the storefronts remain empty. The 400,000-square-foot complex is near the city’s VRE station and City Hall.

July 25, 2012

In City Center, a retail and residential development completed in 2009, most of the apartments are occupied but almost all of the storefronts remain empty. The 400,000-square-foot complex is near the city’s VRE station and City Hall.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Manassas Park High School. Over a decade, the city spent nearly $95 million on school construction, including a 2006 expansion of the high school, which had been built seven years earlier, and a new $33.5 million elementary school.

July 25, 2012

Manassas Park High School. Over a decade, the city spent nearly $95 million on school construction, including a 2006 expansion of the high school, which had been built seven years earlier, and a new $33.5 million elementary school.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

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