Developer Files To Build Data Center On Indianapolis’ East Side

Atlanta-based developer DC Blox has initiated plans for a new three-building data center campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, proposing a significant investment of over $2 billion. The proposed site is the former Ford Visteon manufacturing facility at 305 Fintail Drive, located in the East Gate neighborhood, a location that has been vacant since 2007. The project requires a variance of use approval from the Metropolitan Development Commission to proceed without a full rezoning, as the land is currently designated for heavy industrial purposes. The initial public hearing for the DC Blox proposal is set for May 14 at the City-County Building, offering the first opportunity for public comment. This development is unfolding against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny and opposition to data centers across Indiana, including Indianapolis, largely driven by concerns over their substantial energy and water requirements. Utility provider AES has indicated its capacity to service large-load operators like data centers, with DC Blox committing to cover all associated infrastructure costs, including a new substation. The DC Blox project is one of several data center initiatives in Indianapolis; it follows Google's withdrawn plans for a hyperscale center in Franklin Township and recent approvals for other data centers in Decatur Township and Martindale Brightwood. Alysa Guffey of IndyStar has been covering these ongoing developments in the region.