1940 Manassas National Battlefield Park was established from lands purchased by the Federal government in the 1930's. The Stuart's Hill property was not included in the bill or in subsequent park expansion bills in 1954 or 1980.
1973 Mariott Corporation purchased Stuart's Hill Tract with the intent of building a $50 million "Great America theme park". Local opponents sued over the issue of zoning and Mariott eventually pulled out.
1986 Hazel/Peterson Companies bought Stuart's Hill Tract (then known as the William Center) for $11 million. The announced use was for a residential and office park complex.
1988 Hazel/Peterson Companies announced plans to build a 1.2 million square foot mall on the property. Historians, land preservationists, and local community activists drew battle lines for what one opponent called "the third battle of Manassas."
