'We're not going anywhere' | Neighbors on Indy's east side rally against DC Blox data center
Neighbors in Indianapolis are actively opposing a proposed DC BLOX data center. They held a rally, collected signatures for a petition, and plan to protest an upcoming city council hearing. The Indianapolis City County Council President plans to propose a moratorium on new data centers.
Residents on Indianapolis' east side, specifically in Irvington, are organizing against a proposed DC BLOX data center intended for the former Ford plant site off South Kitley Avenue and Finlay Fintail Drive. The group "Eastside Community Action" rallied at the Irvington Farmers' Market, collecting over 3,000 signatures on a petition to halt the project. Residents like Sandra Thompson and Mikey Hess, who started the petition, voiced concerns about potential impacts on energy prices and water usage.
Despite DC BLOX scaling back their initial plans, community opposition remains strong. Indianapolis City County Council President Maggie Lewis announced her intention to propose a moratorium on new data centers, a move which Hess believes is "a little too late" for their current fight. The final hearing for the city's approval of the DC BLOX site is scheduled for Wednesday, with neighbors planning protests ahead of time. A community meeting to discuss the data center was also planned at Irvington Presbyterian Church.