DC Blox’s closure on the property next to the Nashville Zoo doesn’t mean a data center is guaranteed. Here’s why
DC Blox has acquired a 23-acre property adjacent to the Nashville Zoo, but construction of a data center is not guaranteed. New local regulations on data center locations are heading for a final vote, and an untested state vesting law could lead to a legal challenge over development rights. Residents are also mobilizing public attention against the project.
DC Blox has reportedly closed on a 23-acre property next to the Nashville Zoo, though the company has not confirmed the purchase. Local resident Drew Small, who has researched the development, noted that land ownership does not guarantee the construction of a proposed data center due to pending local and state legal factors.
At the local level, the Nashville City Council is slated for a third and final vote on Tuesday on new regulations governing data center locations. These rules, if passed, would take immediate effect and could block DC Blox's project if permits are not secured beforehand. On the state level, a law passed last year allows developers to lock in development rights upon submitting a "substantially compliant" permit application, rather than waiting for approval. DC Blox could argue this law allows them to proceed under previous regulations if they submit their plans before new city rules take effect.
However, Small emphasized that this state vesting law has not been "pressure tested through litigation like this," indicating a potential legal battle. The Nashville Zoo has expressed its commitment to protecting the health and well-being of the Zoo and its surrounding community. The City Deeds Office confirmed it had heard of the sale but had not yet received the official deed. DC Blox's attorney, Doug Sloan, and the company itself declined to comment.