Manassas City Council Delays Decision on Future of Water Tower

The Manassas City Council voted unanimously Monday to wait until June to decide whether or not to demolish the city’s 100-year-old water tower.

The decision will allow fundraisers more time to conduct an architectural survey that could garner funding from state and federal grants to preserve the 147-foot structure, The Washington Post reports. The architectural survey could also place the structure on the National Register of Historic Places, which could increase potential grant funding.

In July, the town council voted to hold a special meeting this month to give the water tower’s supporters time to raise the $180,000 required for repairs, though the fundraising effort eventually stalled. The structure costs roughly $10,000 each year to operate.

A Facebook group entitled, “Save the Old Town Manassas Water Tower,” has already gained more than 600 followers and has reportedly received commitments for $2,500 of the $7,500 required to conduct an architectural survey.

Image: Save the Old Town Manassas Water Tower (Source: Facebook)