Amazon Abandons Loudoun Data Center Project for Housing and Arts

Amazon has scrapped plans to construct four data centers on the former George Washington University campus in Loudoun County, Virginia. The company will instead develop most of the 122-acre property into mixed-use and residential spaces. This decision follows sustained opposition from local residents who contested the proposed facilities.

The new agreement includes specific concessions to the county. Amazon will transfer 25 acres of the land to Loudoun County for the construction of a community arts center and a recreational facility. Additionally, the company will contribute $5 million to the county’s housing fund.

Amazon submitted its original proposal in July 2026. In September, Phyllis J. Randall, the chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, met with company representatives. Randall advised the firm to consider alternative uses for the land given local sentiment.

Josh Weissman, Amazon’s vice president for data center development, stated that the company acted quickly to purchase the site when it became available. He acknowledged the county’s "pointed concerns about data center development at this particular site." Weissman noted that while Amazon viewed the legal development potential differently, it chose a shared vision over "costly litigation."

Loudoun County is known as "Data Center Alley" due to its high concentration of such facilities. Residents have cited noise and high electricity consumption as primary reasons for their opposition. The county’s approach to new construction has become more restrictive in recent months.

The shift in local policy aligns with a national trend. President Donald Trump recently urged data center builders and AI hyperscalers to pay dividends to local communities to offset energy price increases. He also proposed that these facilities generate their own power and sell surplus energy back to the grid.

Randall described the outcome as a result of cooperation between the two parties. In a statement, she said the agreement provides new spaces for residents to gather and play. She emphasized that the deal will help provide more attainable homes for working families.