Economic Growth By Design: Manassas Year-End Market Report

Earlier this year, we noticed a trend in the latest Year-End Historic Downtown Manassas Market Report: Of the five projects highlighted as adding to the city’s vitality, three are Loveless Porter Architects clients. We are proud to have lent our expertise to Battle Street Bistro and the Zandra’s Taqueria expansion — both completed and sporting popular rooftop bars — and of our continued involvement in the Harris II mixed-use project, which will bring three new storefronts and 16 apartment homes overlooking Battle Street.

The report states: “Our ‘Historic Heart’ experienced a host of activity from new business openings and commercial redevelopment projects, to a full slate of events that attracted over 290,000 visitors – all helping solidify 2021 as one of Downtown’s best years ever. Historic Downtown Manassas, known as a cultural and commercial hub for the [Metropolitan Washington, D.C.] region, continues to see strong demand for retail space. According to third-party database CoStar, the Downtown area ended 2021 with a retail vacancy rate of 0% while asking rents increased 3% year-over-year.”

While we won’t see the 2022 numbers until January, based on our own client roster, we are confident that it will reflect even more positive economic news for this little city that could. In the meantime, Loveless Porter will continue to help Manassas business owners navigate the sometimes complex design challenges and zoning and permitting processes that help this bustling Main Street area maintain its “historic heart with a modern beat.”