"That's the word on the street," says one Boston real estatebroker familiar with the deal. The source, who requested anonymity,insists that Tribeca has the property tied up. Insignia/ESG ofBoston is said to be leasing broker.

Calls to broker William Brodsky at Insignia/ESG's New Yorkoffice were not returned. Citing a confidentiality agreement, Neccospokesman Stan Byerly declined comment, except to acknowledge thatthe 500,000-sf property is on the market. "It will all probably beknown in the next couple of weeks, but right now we can't sayanything about it," says Byerly.

Jeanne Strain of the Cambridge Business Development Center saysit is well known that Necco has been trying to sell its plant, butadds she has not heard of Tribeca's plans. With the building'sprominent locations on one of the city's main thoroughfares, Strainsays the developers may have difficulty pushing their project,given that data centers typically do not attract a lot of vitality.Such a use would probably have to be accentuated with a retailpresence on the first floor, Strain says, or perhaps someresidential units.