Indy Data Center Approved

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission has approved a $500 million data center project proposed by Los Angeles-based developer Metrobloks. The decision, passed by vote on Wednesday, allows the facility to be built in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, specifically on Sherman Drive near 25th Street on the city's near north side. The approval came despite months of community feedback and strong opposition from residents. Cierra Johnson of One Voice Martindale Brightwood stated that residents would "continue to fight this thing" and were open to rework the project but not to "roll over." Similarly, the organization Protect Martindale Brightwood announced it is considering legal action to challenge the commission's decision. Metrobloks attorney Tyler Ochs described the proposed data center as "low-impact," emphasizing its closed-loop cooling system and minimal water usage to mitigate environmental concerns. Ochs clarified that the facility is intended to be multi-tenanted, serving a variety of users from schools to hospitals. Metrobloks has expressed a desire to continue working with the community as construction approaches, though no start date has been confirmed. In related news, the commission last month also approved plans for Seattle-based Sabey Data Centers to develop a separate $4 billion data center spanning over 1 million square feet along State Road 67 on Indy’s far southwest side.