Manassas officials outline data‑center, hotel and redevelopment projects that could add millions to city coffers

Manassas City Council heard a multi‑hour briefing Jan. 27 on the city’s economic development work, including several large industrial and hospitality projects that city staff say will bring substantial new tax revenue and jobs.

Economic Development Director Patrick Small told council that multiple data‑center buildings are under construction or in planning, that a Home2Suites extended‑stay hotel is expected at the Landing at Cannon Branch, and that the city is pursuing redevelopment of the Mathis Avenue shopping center and the Old Town Inn site in downtown Manassas.

Small said the Landing at Cannon Branch sale supports a planned 100‑plus–room extended‑stay hotel and that the larger development has produced about $16 million in municipal land sales, roughly $2 million in new real‑estate tax revenue and about $500,000 in new lodging tax revenue so far. On data centers, Small told council the city expects each large facility to generate roughly $4 million to $6 million a year in new revenues once equipped, and he described a $27,720,000 land sale to Amazon Web Services as part of that expansion.

The Economic Development Authority chair, Denise Harover, and other authority members discussed oversight and the authority’s work with tenants and developers on Mathis Avenue and other corridor plans. Harover said the EDA approved sale of a 1.41‑acre site at the Landing at Cannon Branch that will be used for a new Home2Suites and said the hotel project is expected to create about 50 jobs and represent an approximate $20 million private investment.

Small and EDA members emphasized that council did not use incentives to attract the data centers and said the buildings were locating in Manassas because of zoning and market fit. Small also noted Micron’s continued regional investment — a recent governor‑and‑federal announcement of roughly $2 billion in additional investment — and said the company remains one of the city’s largest taxpayers and employers.

Council members and staff highlighted programs intended to help residents benefit from new investment. Small announced that Grow Manassas will underwrite two‑year nursing degrees for city residents who gain admission to Northern Virginia Community College’s nursing program; UVA Health will pay half the tuition and Grow Manassas will cover the other half. Small said the Grow Manassas program and the city’s graduate/GED supports aim to move residents into credentialed jobs created by local employers.

Councilmembers asked about retail vacancy, the city’s ability to accommodate office construction given regional vacancy, anticipated traffic and parking needs related to Old Town Inn redevelopment, and next steps on Mathis Avenue. Small said council had signaled openness at a recent retreat to move multifamily residential elements to other parcels within certain developments and that staff will continue community engagement and planning work.

Officials said next actions include ongoing site plan and subdivision reviews, redevelopment community conversations for the Mathis Avenue shopping center, and requests for proposals for properties where the council has authorized staff to seek redevelopment partners. The department encouraged developers to engage with staff on potential apartment projects and said council will evaluate affordability elements if multifamily is pursued.