Proposed Nashville Zoo data center site could include larger second building, substation
A proposed DC BLOX data center near the Nashville Zoo is revealed to be potentially much larger, including a second building and an electrical substation, prompting a zoning appeal from the zoo due to environmental concerns. The Nashville Metro Council has also advanced a temporary moratorium on new data center approvals to establish citywide regulations.
Newly reviewed planning documents for the DC BLOX data center project at 648 Grassmere Park, adjacent to the Nashville Zoo, indicate the development could be significantly larger than initially presented. A geotechnical engineering report from February 2026, obtained by FOX 17 News, details plans for a one-story 10-megawatt data center, a three-story 40-megawatt data center, generator yards, and a 72,000-square-foot electrical substation on the 23.5-acre site.
Nashville Zoo officials have expressed significant concerns about the expanded project and its potential impacts on animal habitats, including noise, lighting, power demand, and round-the-clock operations. As a result, the zoo has initiated legal action, with land use attorney and former Metro Codes Director Bill Herbert filing a zoning appeal to overturn previously approved permits for the development.
These revelations come amidst a broader citywide debate on data center regulation. The Nashville Metro Council recently passed the first reading of a temporary moratorium on new data center approvals, aiming to pause zoning, building, and grading permits until November or until permanent regulations are enacted. Councilmember Courtney Johnston, who introduced the moratorium, emphasized its temporary and narrow scope, designed to allow the city time to formulate comprehensive rules for the rapidly growing industry. A separate bill to establish Nashville's first specific zoning regulations for data centers is slated for consideration by the Metro Planning Commission.