Minneapolis residents question proposed North Loop data center
Residents in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood have concerns about a proposed data center by Legacy Investing at the former Star Tribune printing plant. Key issues include power, water, and noise impacts, despite the project being designed to fall under the city's moratorium size limits. The debate is ongoing, with city approval still pending.
A proposed data center project in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood has generated significant community concern. Legacy Investing, a Virginia-based company, is under contract to acquire the former 13-acre Minnesota Star Tribune printing plant for the development. A large community meeting was held where residents voiced concerns about potential impacts, including power consumption, water usage, and noise.
Developers stated the project would be a relatively small data center with water use comparable to a few homes. This smaller scale reportedly allows it to bypass a recently enacted Minneapolis data center moratorium, which applies to facilities over 350,000 square feet. However, residents still have questions about the future of the neighboring land and felt their concerns were not fully addressed.
Conversely, Minneapolis city leaders and the Minneapolis Downtown Council view data centers, such as the conversion of the old Sleep Number building, as a means to boost the city's tax base. The proposed sale is expected to close by year-end, contingent on city approval, indicating that the debate and development process are still in their early stages.