Councilors undecided on eastside data center
DC Blox proposes a $2 billion data center campus in Indianapolis near the Pennsy Trail, sparking concerns among eastside residents about environmental impacts, particularly from the brownfield site and diesel generators. While the property is zoned industrial, DC Blox seeks a use variance from the Metropolitan Development Commission, bypassing the City-County Council's direct approval. Local councilors remain undecided as community opposition continues.
Residents on the east side of Indianapolis, particularly near the Pennsy Trail, are expressing significant concerns over a proposed $2 billion data center campus by Georgia-based developer DC Blox. Megan Lapa, a local resident, initially thought the project might be a good fit for the 150-acre industrial park, but further research revealed serious environmental worries. The site, a former Ford factory, is a brownfield, raising fears about digging up contaminated soil during construction. Additionally, the planned 56 diesel generators, though intended for monthly testing, are a concern due to potential noise and pollution impacts on the nearby Irvington Community Elementary School.
DC Blox has offered community commitments, including funding energy infrastructure improvements, using local labor unions, and donating to Pennsy Trail maintenance. However, residents like Lapa deem these protections inadequate. Republican City-County Councilor Michael Paul Hart, in whose district the property lies, and Democratic Councilor Andy Neilsen, who represents an adjacent district with many affected residents, have hosted community meetings with DC Blox representatives. Both councilors acknowledge the community's concerns, with Nielsen launching a resident survey.
The approval process for the data center involves the city's Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC), as DC Blox is seeking a use variance rather than a rezoning. This process limits the City-County Council's ability to override the MDC's decision, a point of frustration for neighbors. Councilors Hart and Neilsen both stated they are currently undecided on whether to support the project, with Nielsen awaiting the results of his community survey before making his decision public.