Prime Garden Center Property Sold for Data Center Development
A prominent garden center in Northern Virginia has been sold to a data center developer in a deal valued at $160 million, according to reports from the Prince William Times. The Merrifield Garden Center in Gainesville, Virginia, located within Prince William County‘s designated data center opportunity zone, will close at year’s end after operating since 2008.
Transaction Details and Property History
The 38-acre property at 6895 Wellington Road sold for approximately $4.2 million per acre, sources indicate. Land records show the Warhurst family purchased the property for about $2.3 million in 2004. The site features a 12,000-square-foot retail store and a 37,000-square-foot greenhouse, making it one of three nurseries under the same ownership.
A notice at the garden center described the location as “more than just a retail location,” stating it had served as “a home for our plants, an education hub, and a collaboration space.” The property’s location within the county’s data center overlay district means data center development is permitted by right without requiring special approval.
Developer Profile and Regional Projects
BlackChamber Group, the acquiring entity, is described in reports as a private equity firm focused on data center development in Northern Virginia. Founded in 2019, the company reportedly specializes in developing build-to-suit powered shells for hyperscale clients and has secured more than $3 billion to fund its development plans.
Analysts suggest the company’s employees bring experience from major technology and development firms including Meta, JLL, COPT, Credit Suisse, and Whiting-Turner. BlackChamber is reportedly involved in several other regional projects, including the John Marshall Commons Tech Park in Haymarket, Village Place Technology Park in Gainesville, and the Innovation Gateway data center project in Loudoun County.
Community and Political Reaction
Local officials have expressed disappointment about the transaction. State Senator Danica Roem commented that replacing a garden center with another data center “is beyond parody,” citing concerns about rising energy bills and massive energy consumption. The sentiment reflects growing community apprehension about the expansion of data centers in residential areas.
The Prince William data center overlay district, established in 2016 and totaling approximately 9,700 acres, was designed to promote technology infrastructure development in specific zones. While successful in attracting development from neighboring Loudoun County, officials are now reconsidering the zoning amid resident backlash and environmental concerns.
Regional Data Center Development Trends
The transaction occurs amid broader industry developments in data center construction across Virginia. Further south outside Richmond, Wagner Urban Logistics recently withdrew its proposal for a 1 million-square-foot data center development in Varina, Henrico County, according to the Henrico Citizen. That project faced opposition from the local planning commission, which had recommended denial of the application.
These contrasting outcomes highlight the complex balance between technological expansion and community preservation. As mapping services and digital infrastructure continue to evolve, analysts suggest the tension between data center development and community interests will likely intensify throughout the region.
Future Development Plans
BlackChamber has not yet detailed specific plans for the former garden center property, according to reports. The company reportedly owns more than 300 acres across Loudoun and Prince William Counties, indicating significant ongoing interest in Northern Virginia’s data center market. The region continues to experience robust growth in technology infrastructure despite increasing regulatory and community scrutiny.
Market observers suggest the acquisition represents another step in the ongoing transformation of Prince William County’s economic landscape, as agricultural and retail properties increasingly give way to digital infrastructure supporting the Washington D.C. metropolitan area’s technology sector.
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