Real Estate Roundup: DataBank Phase II Headwinds; Five Story Multi-Family Proposed For Former Avon Enamel Building; Airmont Fitness Center Building To Become Yeshiva

At a recent Orangetown Planning Board meeting, DataBank presented revised plans for Phase II of its data center on Corporate Drive in Orangeburg, New York. The updated proposal significantly scales down the project from 145,000 to 77,862 square feet, eliminating the need for a new electrical substation and relying on existing infrastructure. Despite the reduction, approximately 120 residents from Orangetown and nearby Old Tappan, NJ, voiced strong opposition. Concerns included noise pollution, diesel exhaust from backup generators, potential wetland loss, and risks to Lake Tappan, a local drinking water source. Additionally, the Rockland County Department of Planning expressed reservations, noting that Orangetown's Light Industrial-Office (LIO) zoning district does not specifically permit data centers and that the Town Board has not yet acted on a proposed conditional use amendment. The County also highlighted the project's substantial energy demands, estimating that both phases would consume enough power for over 30,630 homes. It recommended that DataBank implement onsite energy production or Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) to mitigate grid impact, but DataBank's representatives indicated no plans for such systems, opting instead for an extensive array of diesel generators.