Developer discusses proposed Minneapolis data center

The North Loop Neighborhood Association (NLNA), in collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Design Center, is organizing community workshops to gather feedback on a proposed data center and multi-use development. The project involves converting the former Star Tribune printing facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Legacy Investing, the potential buyer, is currently in the initial stages of the approval process with the City of Minneapolis and will present its plans at the NLNA Planning + Zoning committee meeting on August 19.

Daniel English, Managing Partner, and Ari Chernikoff, VP of Development for Legacy Investing, provided insights into their proposal. English highlighted that printing press buildings are well-suited for data center conversions due to their structural characteristics, tall ceilings, and existing infrastructure. He cited successful conversions in Cleveland and Cincinnati. The proposed Minneapolis facility would be relatively smaller, initially around 20 megawatts.

Addressing community concerns, English stated that modern data centers utilize closed-loop and air-cooling technologies, significantly reducing water usage to the equivalent of a few homes. He also noted that generators can be placed inside the building with mufflers and dampers to minimize noise. Regarding power, English asserted that converting a printing press building allows reliance on existing power infrastructure, preventing new strain on the grid. He emphasized the financial unviability of converting the facility to other uses like apartment towers, advocating for its preservation through data center conversion, and expressed interest in community input for programming surrounding parcels for broader city benefits.