Neighborhood feels ‘boxed in’ with new data center proposed for Southwest Louisville
A new 350,000-square-foot data center is proposed for Southwest Louisville's Rubbertown neighborhood, near an already under-construction mega-data center. Residents and Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins are expressing strong opposition, especially given a Metro Council vote is scheduled for a 6-month data center moratorium. The developer, Dermody, proposed the conversion of a warehouse into a data center just days before the moratorium vote, raising concerns about the timing.
Residents of Louisville's Rubbertown neighborhood are expressing alarm over a newly proposed 350,000-square-foot data center. This new project, proposed by a real estate company identified as Dermody, would convert a 20-acre warehouse into a data center, situated just one mile from another 150-acre megawatt data center already under construction on Camp Ground Road.
Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins of District One voiced strong concerns, suggesting the timing of Dermody's proposal is not a coincidence. The company filed its letter proposing the data center conversion just four days before the Louisville Metro Council is scheduled to hold a final vote on a six-month moratorium that would suspend data center development approvals across the city. Residents fear being "boxed in" by multiple data centers and worry about the impact on their quality of life.
Opponents, including Councilwoman Hawkins, believe the developer is attempting to circumvent the impending moratorium. Residents in the area, some of whom have lived there for decades, are concerned about potential development pushing them out or negatively altering their generational wealth and community.