Hartford mayor denies rumors of AI data center coming to city
Hartford, Connecticut Mayor Arunan Arulampalam denied rumors of an AI data center being developed at 150 Windsor St., following community concerns from activists like Jendayi Scott about potential negative impacts. The mayor clarified that the site is planned for a workforce and innovation campus, not a data center, and will involve classrooms and collaborative spaces.
Hartford, Connecticut Mayor Arunan Arulampalam has publicly denied rumors that an AI data center is planned for the city, specifically at the long-vacant site at 150 Windsor St.
Community activist Jendayi Scott, CEO of the nonprofit Angel of Edgewood, voiced concerns about the potential negative impact such a facility could have on the neighborhood, emphasizing the need for transparency and community involvement. Scott noted a pattern of such projects being located in communities with fewer resources to oppose them.
Responding to the growing speculation, Mayor Arulampalam stated definitively, "We have never had any intention to build a data center, we have no interest in building a data center." He clarified that his office's previous discussions about an "AI center" were misconstrued, explaining that the project is actually a "workforce and innovation campus." This campus would serve as a collaborative space for businesses, students, and startups, focusing on technological innovation without the massive energy consumption or server infrastructure of a data center. The mayor cited a similar existing initiative at Trinity College's Constitution Plaza.
The city is currently seeking state funding for the Windsor Street project and plans to demolish the existing unsafe building on the site.