The Road to Revitalization

Manassas Merchants Hope a New Battle Street Breathes Life Into Old Town

When Manassas officials cut the red ribbon draped across Battle Street late last month, it didn't just symbolize the completion of a freshly paved street, some Old Town business owners said.

Instead, they said, it represented the opening of a new venue that will help revitalize the city's downtown.

"Battle Street, even before the improvement project, has proven its ability to serve as a venue," said Okra's Louisiana Bistro owner Charles Gilliam, who has thrown festivals along the street. "Using an area traditionally designed for traffic for a festival imparts a unique feeling of freedom for an individual."

After three months of construction, the $650,000 streetscape project that cuts through Old Town is complete. The redesign was approved by the Manassas City Council last June and was "fast-tracked," despite economic uncertainty, to breathe life into a long-stagnant area.

"Old Town is one of the major places we look to for commercial revenue," City Manager Lawrence D. Hughes said, explaining why Manassas wanted to complete the project quickly. "We are looking at the long-term return from this project."

Along Battle Street, which has become one way from Church Street to the railroad tracks, about a dozen trees and benches have been added. The sidewalks are wider and the parking is limited, allowing restaurants to add outdoor seating.

Okra's will have 30 to 35 seats outside, and Carmello's & Little Portugal is planning to put enough tables outdoors to serve about 40 guests.

With a volatile economy and portions of Battle Street closed during construction, business at the restaurants suffered. But both owners said the end product was worth their dip in sales.

"It was tough, but what kept us going is that we knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel," said Carmello's owner Alice Pires, who was one of about 50 who gathered for the May 27 celebration. "This is going to be great for business."

Although the road widening mostly complete, Hughes said residents can expect to see more changes in Old Town. The parking lot next to the Center for the Arts for Greater Manassas/Prince William County will eventually be transformed into a mixed-use center with office, retail and residential units, and a new signage plan is in the works to direct people to and then within Old Town.

The Battle Street project was part of Manassas City Council member Andrew L. Harrover's Manassas Next initiative, which outlined short-term goals and a vision for the city's future. The council bought into the idea and worked with city planners and Arthur Construction Co. to design the streetscape.

"It's gratifying to see that it's complete," Harrover (R) said. "It was literally a back-of-the-envelope idea that I wanted to see done."

With the road construction behind them, city officials said the next task is to expand Old Town's commercial base.

In February, the council adopted an ordinance to make the historic area an "arts and tourism" district. The designation allows Manassas to provide tax incentives to businesses that contribute to the arts and cultural activities or provide goods and services to visitors.