City rejects permit application for proposed data center in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood

The City of Cleveland has rejected a permit application for a proposed hyperscale data center slated for the Slavic Village neighborhood. The project, put forth by Westlake-based Lakeland Equity Group, aimed to construct Cleveland's first hyperscale data center on East 55th Street. The proposed facility was expected to consume 150 megawatts of power daily, equivalent to supplying approximately 100,000 homes, and would necessitate new water, sewer, and power connections. The development was met with vocal opposition from local residents and city officials. Ward 15 Councilman Charles Slife introduced a moratorium ordinance on May 4, citing community concerns about large, invasive data centers being located in close proximity to residential areas. Residents Dorothy Blackwell and Witold Sztalkopr expressed worries regarding the project's potential impact on water, power, traffic, and the financial well-being of Slavic Village. Mayor Justin Bibb acknowledged the community's concerns, pledging transparency and emphasizing the city's efforts to implement robust policies and safeguards to protect the environment and manage rising utility costs. Additionally, there is discussion about a potential amendment to ban large-scale data centers in Ohio appearing on the November ballot.