Amazon converts 122-acre Loudoun site into housing and public land

Amazon has scrapped plans to build four data centers on a 122-acre parcel in Loudoun County, Virginia. The company will instead develop most of the former George Washington University campus into mixed-use and residential projects. The decision follows a proposal filed in July that drew intense scrutiny from local residents.

Under the new agreement, Amazon will transfer 25 acres of the site to Loudoun County. The land is designated for a community arts center and a recreational facility. The company will also deposit $5 million into the county’s housing fund to support new construction.

Josh Weissman, Amazon’s vice president for data center development, explained the shift in strategy. He stated that while the company viewed the site’s legal development potential differently than local officials, they opted for a shared vision over litigation. Weissman noted the company respected the county’s "pointed concerns about data center development at this particular site."

Loudoun County is widely known as "Data Center Alley" due to its high density of server facilities. Residents have long complained about the noise and massive electricity consumption associated with these sites. The county’s approach to new projects has become stricter in recent months, prompting Amazon to negotiate with local leadership.

Phyllis J. Randall, chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, met with Amazon executives in September. During that meeting, she suggested the company consider alternative uses for the land. Randall described the final deal as a result of dialogue rather than conflict. She emphasized that the agreement will provide more attainable homes for working families.

The move occurs as national attention turns to the environmental and economic costs of data centers. President Donald Trump recently urged tech companies to pay local communities a dividend for energy price increases. He also proposed that data centers generate their own electricity and sell surplus power back to local grids.

The former campus sits just outside Washington, D.C. The site’s conversion marks a departure from the standard model of large-scale server farm construction in the region. The deal includes specific financial commitments and land transfers that go beyond standard zoning approvals.