Data center blocked? A rare move by Metro could stop proposal near Nashville Zoo
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has proposed legislation to use eminent domain to acquire land intended for a DC BLOX data center near the Nashville Zoo. This action aims to halt the project, which has faced significant community opposition over concerns like noise pollution and transparency. The mayor's move coincides with public hearings on proposed data center regulations and a temporary moratorium.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has introduced legislation to acquire, through eminent domain, a property near the Nashville Zoo that DC BLOX intends to purchase for a new data center. The mayor's proposal aims to stop the development, citing community concerns and his own apprehension about the project's impact.
The proposed 270,000-square-foot facility, designed as a connectivity hub requiring 50 megawatts of electricity, has generated substantial local opposition. Critics have raised issues including potential noise pollution affecting zoo animals and a perceived lack of transparency from the developer. A petition against the project has garnered over 500,000 signatures, and residents voiced their concerns at a recent public hearing addressing broader data center regulations and a temporary moratorium.
DC BLOX, which has a $23 million contract to buy the land from MarketStreet Enterprises, criticized the mayor's eminent domain consideration, attributing it to "misinformation" surrounding the project. If the legislation passes, the city would be able to purchase the property and effectively block the data center's construction.