Plan to Revive Old Town Manassas Survives Cuts

Although Manassas officials will be forced to slash spending in many city departments this year, the plan to revitalize Old Town Manassas will move forward, officials said this week.

"Old Town is one of the major places we look to for commercial revenue," Manassas City Manager Lawrence D. Hughes said. "We are looking at the long-term return from this project and expect it to be finished about the time economists say we have bottomed out and are heading back up."

On Wednesday, Elizabeth S. Via, Manassas's community development director, met with members of the Old Town Business Association to update them on the progress of the Old Town sector plan. Adopted by the City Council in June, the plan includes goals, strategies and proposed zonings to guide the city as it works to breathe life into an area that has long been stagnant.

"I really thought with the budget shortfall that this project might fall through," said Joanne Wunderly, president of the Old Town Business Association. "But it's great to see the city is behind us. This will give us the boost we need."

To ensure that the Old Town revitalization plan moves forward, Hughes said, the city moved the plan's funding from the general fund, which must be cut by a few million dollars, into the gas tax fund. There is about $1.4 million in the gas tax fund, roughly $670,000 of which is earmarked for the plan, Hughes said.

Via said city officials are in the midst of working on two key portions of the Old Town plan, the Battle Street project and the creation of an arts and tourism district.

"Now that Battle Street is moving, I think the rest of the plan will follow," said Lou Balboni, owner of Ashby Jewelers in Old Town and a member of the committee that helped draft the sector plan. "We need to revitalize Old Town. There are a lot of empty storefronts, and it's not as vibrant as it used to be."

Battle Street will become one-way from Church Street to the Manassas Museum. About 10 parking spaces will remain, and sidewalks will be extended -- up to 13 feet near Okra's Louisiana Bistro and Carmello's & Little Portugal restaurant -- to allow for outdoor dining.

"Outdoor dining really turned our business around, and I plan to add more," said City Square Café owner Robert Barolin, who added outdoor seating a few years ago. "We've been waiting a long time to get the street changed, and it's finally happening. It's very exciting."

The plan states that canopy trees and public art will line the streets. A new building and green space are planned to replace the parking lot between Main and Battle streets, near the railroad. Occupants of that building have not been determined.

Utility and electric crews have begun preparing Battle Street for its makeover. Via said the city is about to search for a project contractor and hopes to complete the project by July 4.

"I had some different ideas, but this is a good plan," said Okra's owner, Charles Gilliam. "Making the road one-way toward the museum and parking garage is a nice feature. Having restaurants on the sidewalk will also make it a little more of an exciting place in the summer and fall."