Midtown Walmart Redevelopment Drops Data Center Plan
The controversial data center component of the proposed Midtown Center Walmart redevelopment in Milwaukee has been dropped by the developer following significant public opposition and a contentious review process. This decision clears the way for a revised plan focused on affordable housing, a new library, and self-storage to advance, addressing a critical deadline for the housing developer.
Alderman Mark Chambers Jr. announced that the proposed computing research facility, initially part of the redevelopment of the vacant Midtown Center Walmart in Milwaukee, has been removed from the plans. This decision follows extensive public opposition and a contentious City Plan Commission meeting on June 29, where commissioners delayed action on the proposal after over six hours of testimony. Opponents, including members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, consistently referred to the facility as a data center and raised concerns about its impact on the predominantly Black neighborhood, questioning outreach processes and potential environmental effects despite developer Trent Overhue's assurances about its small scale (less than 10,000 sq ft of IT space, 9-10 MW power, closed-loop cooling).
The removal of the computing component allows the broader redevelopment to proceed, which includes a new Milwaukee Public Library branch, approximately 200 units of affordable housing by Gorman & Co., and a self-storage facility by Affordable Family Storage, led by Overhue. This change is critical for Gorman & Co., which faces a July 31 deadline to begin construction on the affordable housing or risk losing its low-income housing tax credit award from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. While the data center component would have provided substantial tax revenue, Alderman Chambers stated that the revised plan better reflects community feedback and prioritizes housing and neighborhood amenities, aiming to revitalize the Midtown area which has seen the Walmart vacant since 2016. The City Plan Commission is expected to review the amended plan on July 20, with no new public hearing legally required.