Data center developer walks away from plans to buy old printing facility in Minneapolis' North Loop
Legacy Investing, a data center developer, has withdrawn its plans to purchase the former Star Tribune printing facility in Minneapolis' North Loop. This decision follows significant resident concerns regarding the project's impact on power, water, and noise. The withdrawal leaves the property's future uncertain, while Minneapolis' city-wide data center moratorium is set to expire in November.
Legacy Investing, a data center developer based in Arlington, Virginia, has officially backed out of its agreement to purchase the former Star Tribune printing facility and adjacent parcels in Minneapolis' North Loop. The 13-acre site was slated for conversion into a data center, a proposal that had generated considerable concern among local residents.
Neighborhood meetings last month saw strong community opposition, with residents raising questions about the data center's potential impact on local power grids, water resources, and noise levels. While developers attempted to mitigate these fears by assuring a small site with minimal water use, residents expressed relief to WCCO following Legacy Investing's withdrawal, stating they were "so happy."
The Minnesota Star Tribune, which owns the property, is now left without a buyer but remains committed to maximizing the facility's value. The broader discussion surrounding data center development in Minneapolis continues, with the city's current moratorium on such projects scheduled to expire this November.