RELLIS Data and Research Center gets fresh start as Bryan approves replacement tax agreement
The Bryan City Council unanimously approved a replacement tax abatement agreement for the RELLIS Campus Data and Research Center, a project that faced years of delays and a bankruptcy filing. Despite opposition from residents raising concerns about water and energy strain, the council moved forward with the agreement. This approval aims to restore tax benefits for the data center under new ownership.
The Bryan City Council unanimously approved a replacement tax abatement agreement for the long-delayed RELLIS Campus Data and Research Center after two postponed votes. The data center project, initially approved in 2021, experienced construction setbacks, including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in November 2025 by the original developer, RELLIS Campus Data and Research Center, LLC, after a financial partner withdrew.
A new owner has since taken over the nearly finished facility, leading to the need for a replacement tax abatement agreement with the City of Bryan. The property, owned by The Texas A&M University System, is valued at an estimated $298 million in improvements. Mayor Pro Tem James Edge indicated that the delay was due to legal questions surrounding the ownership transition, asserting that the new agreement is essentially the same as the previous one but with adjustments favorable to the city.
Despite the council's approval, some residents, including Bryan resident Bob Atchgill, voiced opposition, citing concerns about the strain large-scale data centers place on local water and energy resources. Atchgill highlighted a reported water scarcity warning for Brazos County and argued that data centers would compete with residents for limited resources. Mayor Pro Tem Edge acknowledged the opposition but defended the decision, stating that data centers are not as detrimental as some suggest and will benefit Bryan citizens. The new ownership has until September to begin construction under the agreement.