Manassas, Virginia: Civil War Battlefield Becomes Commuter Haven
by Blanche Evans
Known as one of the famous Civil War battlefields, Manassas, Virginia has a rich history, but proximity to Dulles Airport, serving Washington D.C., and older homes on large lots intown and new development in the county is making Manassas attractive to tech firms for relocation. "Dulles International Airport is located west of the Nation's Capital in beautiful northern Virginia," explain Realtors Jim and Deanna Gilbert. "Virginia's major north-south arterial Route 28 leads north from the airport to Route 7 along the Potomac River and south to Centreville where Routes 29 and I-66 cross on their way west to the Manassas Battlefield area. Proceeding south from Centreville on Route 28 and over Bull Run, one enters Manassas Park and then Manassas." About the market, the Gilberts explain, "Manassas Park and Manassas both feature properties priced substantially lower than Centreville but just minutes further down 28. Manassas Park includes many smaller older homes built on larger lots, plus the much in-demand Quail Hollow and Maple Point townhouse complexes. The 28 end of Manassas includes well-kept older townhome and single-family home areas located closer to Centreville (such as Point of Woods Lakeside, Point of Woods, and Deer Park) as well as much sought upscale newer areas (Wellington) and many mid-priced value areas (Cloverhill, Point of Woods). To the east of 28, lie newer upscale townhome and single family developments off of Manassas Drive, Signal Hill Road, and Prince William Parkway. Newer larger homes on larger acreage parcels lie along both sides of PW Parkway between Manassas and Woodbridge to the East. Properties along the Occoquan River are particularly desired by many. Mid-County Prince William locations offer homeowners a multiplicity of commuting choices each morning, ranging from the VRE train from Manassas Park, east to the I-95 corridor, north on 28 to I-66 in Centreville, west thru Manassas to I-66 at the Battlefield area, or Northeast through Clifton and Burke to hit the Beltway at Braddock." Says Realtor Karen Kruschka, "The Prince William County area of Northern Virginia continues to enjoy strong growth in the sale of both new and resale homes. This is due in large part to continued business expansion in the area. It will probably continue throughout 2004." She observes, "Manassas has two identities. There is the city of Manassas and the Manassas area of Prince William County. Both are benefiting from the influx of high-tech firms in the area. Homes in the city tend to be older while the major residential development is in the county area. Condominiums, town homes and single-family homes are popping up like mushrooms all over the place. There is excellent inbound train and bus service for those folks not working in the immediate area." "The market is continuing at a very brisk pace for the $300,000 and under price range as well as for fixer-upper houses on the market," says Realtor Dan Butler, Jr.. "I think statistical reports over the next 60-90 days with show a marked slowdown in the upper brackets along with a slowdown in new-home sales." | 
