Ferguson residents wrestle with project including a data center, as incentives package awaits the city council’s decision

Residents of Ferguson, Missouri, are raising significant concerns about a proposed $1.8 billion redevelopment of the former Emerson headquarters by developer SSL Investments. The project aims to transform the 200-acre site into a mixed-use campus for technology, energy innovation, and research, potentially incorporating a data center that would utilize existing infrastructure. Community members, including Henry Iwenofu and Lady J Huston, have voiced strong opposition, citing worries about potential health impacts, environmental racism, and the financial fairness of a proposed $1.5 billion tax abatement package over 15 years. Residents organized a town hall to demand greater transparency and information from city officials, emphasizing that such industrial facilities should not be located in residential areas. The Ferguson-Florissant School District has also expressed concerns regarding the tax incentives' potential impact. The Ferguson City Council recently delayed a final vote on the incentives package, with the process now slated to restart due to Mayor Adrian Shropshire being sworn in this week. The proposal, initially introduced during the previous mayor's term, will need to be reintroduced, indicating an ongoing deliberative process amidst the community's vocal opposition.