Developer proposed data center deal to commissioner
An email reveals a proposed agreement between DeKalb County Commissioner Nicole Massiah and developer Ryan Millsap offering full county approval for a two-story data center in exchange for resolving a land swap dispute. This comes as the DeKalb County Commission continues to defer votes on new data center regulations and has extended a moratorium on applications, amidst ongoing community opposition.
An email exchange between DeKalb County Commissioner Nicole Massiah and developer Ryan Millsap has revealed a draft agreement from last year that would have guaranteed the county's full approval for a two-story data center at 2235 Bouldercrest Road. The proposed deal, sent by Millsap in August 2025 months after Massiah took office, sought unconditional zoning approval and a reaffirmation of a zoning certification letter.
This agreement was presented amidst an ongoing dispute between DeKalb County and Millsap concerning unfulfilled obligations from a 2021 land swap, specifically regarding improvements to Intrenchment Creek Park. The draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) from Millsap's company, Blackhall Real Estate Phase II, LLC, via Hickory Real Estate Partners, proposed placing $2.5 million in escrow for park improvements, contingent on the data center receiving all necessary permits and construction beginning. In return, the county would release Blackhall from all previous land swap obligations and litigation.
Commissioner Massiah has not publicly responded to the email and instead emphasized the need for data center regulations, stating her commitment to working with the community to finalize a text amendment. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson also highlighted the county's efforts to adopt zoning regulations for data centers, which have been under consideration for 10 months and repeatedly deferred by the County Commission, often with Massiah's support. Community members have rallied against data centers in the area.
In July 2025, the County Commission enacted a moratorium on data center applications, which was subsequently extended twice, most recently through June 23, 2026. Massiah opposed the initial moratorium vote but was absent for one extension vote. Additionally, a special land use permit application from PCC-DeKalb for a 2-million-square-foot data center in Ellenwood, also in Massiah's district, has been deferred three times, with Massiah making the motions for deferral.