Were Ashburn neighbors offered $4M each for data center land? | NBC4 Washington

Homeowners in the Regency neighborhood of Ashburn, Virginia, reportedly received an offer of $4 million each to sell their properties for data center development. This proposal, spearheaded by former HOA president and real estate developer Mitchell Gandy, aimed to create a "win-win-win" solution for the community, county, and a responsible developer. The plan was kept quiet for over a year before being spotlighted in a data center publication and then a local paper. However, the proposition has created friction within the community, with some residents indicating it will not move forward as originally conceived due to a lack of unanimous agreement among the 143 homeowners. The current HOA president issued a statement clarifying that "there is currently no offer to purchase the Regency Homes for data center development." A significant hurdle for any such redevelopment is the land's current residential zoning, requiring every homeowner's consent for a rezoning application. Loudoun County Supervisor Sylvia Glass, representing the area, confirmed awareness of outreach from data center developers to Regency residents but stated she is not involved in negotiations, and no rezoning application has been submitted to the county. While the county's comprehensive plan for the area near the Ashburn Metro station calls for housing, commercial, and civic uses, some residents, even those who rejected the initial offer, expressed openness to alternative options, citing a diminished quality of life due to the proliferation of nearby data centers.