Manassas Market - St. Jude Children's Hospital
Manassas Market
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Manassas Market

The CRA is seeking qualified and experienced respondents to submit a proposal to act as the developer for a site in the Uptown Redevelopment Area bounded by Thomas Street to the west, North Parkway to the south, Dunscomb Place to the east, and Jackson Avenue to the north. The CRA will convey the property to the selected developer subject to the terms of a redevelopment agreement. MLB Uptown LLC — the former master developer for the Uptown Redevelopment Area — purchased the property in 2015 and conveyed it to the CRA in 2019.

This site forms the heart of the Manassas Market community anchor, as outlined in the Uptown Community Plan. It is located along major transportation routes and is steps away from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus. The plan recommends retail uses for the site — particularly a grocery store and pharmacy — as well as residential uses.

The site includes three contiguous parcels covering 3+ acres. The former grocery store building – vacant for over 15 years – is approximately 26,000 square feet. While the building could be renovated and incorporated into the larger redevelopment project, the CRA does not have a requirement or preference for preserving the building.

Although the CRA does not own adjacent vacant property to the east, there may be opportunities to work with the owners to incorporate these properties into a larger redevelopment project.

RFP Due: August 22, 2025

Q & A

Is this a reissue of a previous RFP, and, if so, what happened to the development project selected under the previous RFP?

Yes, this is a reissue of an RFP that was released in December 2022. After a review of six proposals by CRA staff and the Uptown Community Advisory Committee, the CRA Board signed a letter of intent with the selected developer, whose plan included 70 units of affordable housing and a full-service grocery store. The lead developer decided to withdraw from the letter of intent with the CRA due to changing priorities in their housing development work and a change in their relationship with the grocery store operator.

Is there a preferred type or brand of grocery store for the site?

No, there is not a preferred grocery store type or brand. The community prefers a full-service grocery, but is open to different grocery and market models as long as they offer quality fresh food options.

Is the community open to a bank, fitness/gym business, and/or a Habitat ReStore use?

More details on the overall development plan would be needed, but the community is open to other quality, neighborhood-focused retail options. A grocery or market use is still the top priority, as well as housing on the site.

Can we access the existing building?

We have scheduled several open house hours for the existing building and site:

Does the existing building have electrical power or any lighting fixtures?

The building does not have electrical power or lighting fixtures. It is basically a shell.