The Manassas Park governing body on Dec. 2 approved a Fourth Amendment to the purchase-and-sale agreement for City Center Phase 2 allowing the developer, EPI 4, LLC, to replace a formerly required office building with a second 7‑story apartment building.

Staff described the original agreement (dated Aug. 1, 2012) and previous amendments that had required an office building and a restaurant to precede residential permitting. Developer representatives told the council they were unable to secure financing for new office space given current market conditions and proposed building a second 110‑unit apartment tower instead.

The proposed revised master plan would result in two mirror 7‑story residential buildings, each with approximately 110 units (about 220 total). Staff and the developer said the project must still comply with the city zoning ordinance and applicable development standards, including any required waivers.

Council members raised traffic and safety concerns about parking on adjoining streets and asked whether utilities would be undergrounded; staff said those details are resolved through the site‑plan and engineering review process. Several council members urged the developer to provide affordable units consistent with the city’s affordability policy.

Council negotiated an amendment to the approval requiring that 5% of the units in one of the buildings be affordable and consistent with the city’s adopted policy on affordable housing portability. The motion to authorize the city manager to sign the Fourth Amendment with that condition was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The developer indicated willingness to pursue an additional six below‑market units across the project and said it would confirm details with staff; the amendment action was limited to the single‑building 5% condition attached to the Fourth Amendment voted on Dec. 2.