City Looks to Stabilize Abandoned Historic Home

The City of Manassas is considering a plan to stabilize the rundown roads so it can last through the winter. 

City officials have been meeting with contractors to obtain a bid in an effort to make the necessary repairs to stabilize the house at 9300 Prescott Ave. sometime in mid-January, according to Liz Via-Gossman, director of community development for Manassas.

The city would pay for the repairs, which would be paid back through a lien put on the property. The repairs would likely include removing the wrap-around porch, securing the roof and checking for asbestos, among other things.

The lien would be paid off when the property is sold, Via-Gossman said.  If the property is not sold after two years, then the city could force the tax lien sale of the home. 

The home is owned by Dorothy M. Feaganes; although Bank of America, which holds the mortgage, took control of the building in July.

City officials decided to allow the bank to proceed with the foreclosure process and repair it or sell it, but little has been done to secure the building.

The move by the city to repair the home comes after the property owner failed to submit a acceptable plan of action to secure, repair or remove the house. .

"One more winter and it won't make it," Via-Gossman said.

In October, . Out of 172 votes cast, only 16 percent of you voted to "allow the bank to proceed with foreclosure and sell or repair it, but at least the city should secure it so it lasts through winter."

Most of the votes (38 percent) were for the city to buy the house and restore it because "homes like this just don't exist anymore."

Do you think the city should go ahead with securing/stabilizing the house for the winter?