Metrobloks’ $500 million data center in Indianapolis gets green light

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission recently approved a $500 million data center project by Los Angeles-based developer Metrobloks in the city's Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. The approval followed months of community debate and significant pushback from local residents. Metrobloks plans to construct the facility on Sherman Drive near 25th Street. The company states the data center will be low-impact, designed to be compatible with residential surroundings, and will feature a closed-loop cooling system to address environmental concerns by minimizing water use and avoiding groundwater extraction. Despite the commission's vote, some neighbors, including the organization Protect Martindale Brightwood, continue to express worries about the health and environmental impacts of the development. The group is now exploring options to challenge the commission's decision, including potential legal action. This approval comes shortly after the commission also gave the green light in mid-March to Seattle-based Sabey Data Centers for a separate $4 billion data center campus along Kentucky Avenue and Camby Road.