GAINESVILLE, VA-America Online Inc. will build a $555-million, 240,000-sf data center in Gainesville, VA, its second in Prince William County. Completion is expected in about a year.

ROCKVILLE, MD-Internet services provider e-centives has signed for 47,088 sf, while American Express Financial Advisors took 32,522 sf at 2600 Tower Oaks Blvd.

WASHINGTON, DC-The boutique firm believes the national organization will bring it more business opportunities.

SILVER SPRING, MD-Discovery Communications has dropped plans to lease a five-story, 320,000-sf building that was to be part of its new HQ complex. Plans remain on schedule for two other buildings totaling 700,000 sf.

CENTREVILLE, VA-Centrewood Plaza LLC, has purchased a 98,877-sf center that is fully leased.

STERLING, VA-Lerner Enterprises has chosen Tucon Construction to build a 95,000-sf, one-story building is scheduled for completion in February 2001.

WASHINGTON, DC-District of Columbia officials have set new restrictions on data centers, arguing they need to prevent large windowless buildings from turning promising undeveloped land into dead zones.

BURKE, VA-Madison Retail Group and Roadside Development have purchased a 60,000-sf Hechinger store in Burke, VA, with plans to redevelop and expand it into a block of retail space up to 100,000-sf large. The price was undisclosed.