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Manassas Park council eases eligibility for city homeownership program
Summary
The council approved staff recommendations to expand eligibility for the city’s attainable homeownership program, allowing co‑signers and cash gifts, removing a six‑month residency/employment requirement, and raising AMI bands to broaden access to ADU and WDU units. Staff will re‑evaluate prior applicants under the new rules.
Manassas Park city leaders on May 5 approved changes to the city’s attainable for‑sale housing policy to broaden eligibility for affordable dwelling units (ADUs) and workforce dwelling units (WDUs).
Randy Knight, the city’s director of social services, told the council that two ADU units had sold but two WDU units remained unsold and that 18 previous WDU applicants were determined ineligible under existing rules. “So what we’re here tonight to ask for is the changes — allow co‑signers for both programs to include relatives and non‑married partners, adjust the AMI percentages, remove the six‑month residency requirement and allow cash gifts,” Knight said.
Knight and staff said the changes aim to convert interest into completed sales. Staff reported that of the 18 prior WDU applicants, 16 would have fallen under the 80% area‑median‑income (AMI) band and two under 100% AMI; financing and down‑payment rules, not lack of interest, had been the primary barrier. Council members responding in the meeting generally supported easing requirements, with several urging use of the city’s bank partners and ensuring units selected for affordability are not concentrated in inferior locations within complexes.
Staff recommended increasing WDU income bands (from 60/80 to 80/100) and adjusting ADU AMI thresholds, allowing gifts and co‑signers, and removing the six‑month residency/employment requirement. The council moved, seconded and voted to adopt the staff recommendations; the motion carried. The mover/second and vote tally were not recorded in the public transcript.
City staff said the deadline to sell the existing units has passed and that staff would return to follow up with the developer (Stanley Martin) and redetermine eligibility for prior applicants under the revised rules in hopes of a rapid sale. Officials also noted additional units are planned at a new Liberty Junction development (10 homes total, reportedly five ADUs and five WDUs), with the first units expected in late winter–early spring 2027.
The action directs staff to implement the eligibility changes and apply the city’s existing point system and waiting‑list process if demand exceeds supply. Council members emphasized preserving local preference points for Manassas Park residents and asked staff to ensure unit placements meet quality and equity expectations.
Next steps: staff will re‑screen earlier applicants under the new rules, follow up with the developer to accelerate sales, and incorporate the amended policy language into the program’s administrative procedures.
