The sights and sounds of living near a data center
Residents on Coquina Drive in Reston say construction at a nearby CoreSite data center has caused intense noise, bright lighting and ongoing disruption. Fairfax County requires newer data centers to be at least 200 feet from homes, but residents were told the project was approved before that rule took effect in March 2024; CoreSite said it would limit overnight lighting.
Residents on Coquina Drive in Reston described persistent construction noise, bright lights and the loss of nearby trees and open space as a data center is built less than 100 feet from some homes. Chelsea Clark, who has lived in the neighborhood her entire life, said drilling and banging can begin as early as 5 a.m. and continue until midnight, including on weekends.
Fairfax County rules require data centers to be at least 200 feet from residential property, but residents were told the project had been approved before the requirement took effect in March 2024. The president of the homeowners association said CoreSite agreed to turn off the facility's lights between 6:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.; the company had not otherwise responded to the station's inquiry at the time of the report.