Judge hears lawsuit challenging Birmingham data center construction
Residents in Birmingham's Oxmoor Valley have filed lawsuits against several companies and the city to halt the construction of an AI data center, citing illegal construction and zoning concerns. A Jefferson County judge is currently hearing the case, though a request for an injunction to stop work was not granted immediately. The legal battle continues as residents express concerns about the facility's impact.
Residents in Birmingham's Oxmoor Valley are actively challenging the construction of an AI data center, having filed multiple lawsuits against Hoar Construction, Nebius, the City of Birmingham, and Lakeshore Data Center. They allege the facility's construction is illegal due to zoning irregularities.
Jefferson County Judge Tamara Johnson is presiding over the case, which began earlier this week. Testimony has included Katrina Thomas, director of Birmingham's Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permitting, who acknowledged that under redefined requirements, Nebius would not be permitted to build at the site on Milan Parkway, suggesting the initial permitting might have relied on outdated zoning rules.
The plaintiffs had sought an injunction to immediately halt construction, citing noise disruptions. However, Judge Johnson did not grant this injunction, as the defendants agreed to an immediate hearing of the main case. Furthermore, the judge denied a request by defense attorneys to merge this lawsuit with a separate class-action suit filed in May by other area residents against the city and Nebius.
With no decision expected until after the holiday weekend, residents in Oxmoor Valley remain concerned about the data center's potential effects on their community as the legal proceedings continue.