Riverfront Data Center In McKinley Park Revives Expansion Plans But Faces Delay
QTS Data Center's expansion plans for its McKinley Park campus in Chicago are facing delays after its permit was voided due to inactivity. While the City Council initially approved the addition of a new building in 2024, a city spokesperson confirmed the permit's expiration. Alderman Julia Ramirez and a city working group are also raising concerns about the long-term impact of data centers on infrastructure, water, and electricity, proposing new regulations.
QTS Data Center's plans to expand its facility along the Chicago River in McKinley Park are currently stalled. The Chicago City Council had approved the addition of a three-story building to its existing campus at 2800 S. Ashland Ave. in 2024. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Buildings, Nefsa'Hyatt Brown, confirmed that the permit for this expansion has been voided due to inactivity exceeding 120 days, putting a pause on construction.
Alderman Julia Ramirez (12th Ward) has expressed reservations about the expansion, stating that the city needs to ensure that public benefits are proportional to the long-term demands these facilities place on local infrastructure. She emphasized concerns regarding the effects on the electrical grid, water resources, air quality, and noise, advocating for greater data and transparency.
Concurrently, a city working group tasked with studying data center impacts recently proposed new regulations for Chicago. Their recommendations include creating "new data center-specific environmental standards" and establishing a mechanism for monitoring and enforcing operational impacts, which are not currently part of the city's building permit review process. QTS officials did not respond to requests for comment regarding their plans to reapply for permits.