Residents react to data center developer scrapping plans to buy Minneapolis site
Legacy Investing, a data center developer, has withdrawn its plans to purchase the old Star Tribune printing facility in Minneapolis' North Loop. Residents who had voiced concerns over energy costs, pollution, and noise are reportedly relieved by this decision. The Minneapolis data center moratorium is set to expire in November.
The future of a 13-acre property in downtown Minneapolis, the former Star Tribune printing facility, is uncertain after data center developer Legacy Investing walked away from a deal to purchase the site. Residents in the North Loop neighborhood expressed significant relief, having spent weeks vocalizing concerns over potential energy costs, pollution, and noise associated with a data center in their community.
The Star Tribune, the property owner, stated its continued commitment to maximizing the facility's value for the community and its journalism. During a community meeting last month, developers attempted to address resident anxieties, emphasizing it would be a small site with water usage comparable to a few homes. The project had received support from the Minneapolis Downtown Council, which highlighted the potential for hundreds of millions in valuation and millions in property tax revenue. Mayor Jacob Frey also saw an opportunity for tax revenue and community benefit if the project were "done right."
Residents, however, envisioned alternative uses for the site, such as housing, parks, or retail. Legacy Investing could not be reached for comment. The news comes as the Minneapolis data center moratorium is slated to end in November.