Moving Dirt: University Village Makes Progress

Prince William County closed on the sale of 23 acres of county-owned land at Innovation Park to CastleRock Partners LLC that will become University Village, a cornerstone component of the long-envisioned mixed-use town center project that began decades ago when George Mason University founded their Science and Technology campus in Manassas.  

University Village is a planned $849 million mixed-use complex with 1,480 student-housing units, 150 multifamily units and more than 1.6 million square feet of nonresidential space, including a hotel and conference center, retail areas and office space. 

In September 2022, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) voted 7-1 to rezone the 23.74 acres at the intersection of University Parkway and Prince William Parkway from planned business district to planned mixed-use district. CastleRock Partners agreed to buy the property from the county for $4.86 million. 

"This was the result of great teamwork and public-private partnership from the inception of the project in 2016 through the rezoning, the sale agreement, and site plan reviews," said Tom Flynn, deputy director at PWCDED. "Everyone played their part and worked together to get to today. I am proud to be part of that team and give thanks for everyone’s diligent work.” 

Recently the site has been cleared as crews will work to lay the roads, utilities, and the planned connection to Prince William Parkway. 

“The key has always been the university sparking this to life,” said Tim Kissler, principal at Castle Rock Partners. “Student housing turned this concept into a reality and the student life is going to drive it. We are hoping to meet that energy with curated retailers and landmark food destinations from the likes of Emanuel Reta of Gainesville’s Maaza 29.” 

Read the Washington Business Journal’s comprehensive feature on George Mason University from June 2022.