eBay had been looking at a former Level 3 office campus in Broomfield, sources tell GlobeSt.com. The building was built by Level 3 Communications, but never occupied by the telecom company. In 2003, it was purchased at a huge discount to its construction cost by Lakewood, CO-based Alliance Commercial Properties for $14 million. If the eBay deal had been completed, Alliance might have relocated McData Corp., which signed a lease for about 169,000 sf in one of the buildings. There also is plenty of land around the building to accommodate future growth, if eBay changes its mind.

Indeed, although disappointed, economic development officials aren't giving up. "I think the door is still open to eventually convince eBay to enlarge its presence in the area," Don Dunshee, president of the Broomfield Economic Development Corp. tells GlobeSt.com. "We have a large, educated workforce and great office deals. It makes the area very attractive, even though they know as far as incentives, it's like night and day between us and a state like Texas."

The Denver area had been competing with Austin for the expanded data center, but Durzy tells GlobeSt.com he won't discuss other geographic areas, although local officials say that eBay apparently isn't looking to expand in Austin at this time, either.