Southwest Atlanta Residents Reject Proposed Data Center - Capital B News

Hundreds of residents from southwest Atlanta, including the neighborhoods of Adair Park, Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh, Peoplestown, and Summerhill, convened at the Georgia State University Convocation Center to debate a proposed data center development by Digital Realty. The project, planned near the West End MARTA station, has sparked division, raising concerns about land use and community input amid Atlanta's rapid data center growth. Neighborhood Planning Unit V (NPU-V) held a vote, with residents rejecting the data center proposal 105-87. Opponents highlighted environmental impacts such as high energy and water consumption, advocating for the land's use for affordable housing. Proponents, like Pittsburgh resident Yoseif Reid, emphasized potential jobs and economic revenue for historically Black neighborhoods. City Council members Antonio Lewis and Eshé Collins sponsored the legislation, which seeks to amend a city ordinance banning data centers near transit hubs. An earlier version of the legislation was defeated after opposition from Adair Park residents and intervention by Mayor Andre Dickens. The current legislation includes provisions for retail space and limits on the data center's size, energy use, and water system type. While Adair Park residents remain staunchly opposed, Councilwoman Collins stated her aim was to ensure all southwest communities had a voice. Delvin Davis, president of the Pittsburgh Neighborhood Association, noted that developers increased community engagement after the initial defeat. The NPU-V's rejection is a recommendation to the Atlanta City Council, and the legislation will next go before the city's zoning review board, whose decision and recommendation will precede a full City Council vote. Community leaders, despite differing views on the project, agreed that the debate has generated significant civic momentum. Davis expressed optimism that residents could continue to engage and influence council representatives to address their needs, suggesting that a withdrawal of sponsorship by Councilwoman Collins would significantly hinder the legislation's passage.