Indianapolis Residents Raise Concerns About DC BLOX Data Center Project
The Eastside Community Action (ECA) organization is raising concerns about a new DC BLOX data center approved for construction in the Irvington Historic District of Indianapolis. Residents are worried about construction dust from a brownfield site, noise pollution once operational, and potential impacts on property values. Opposition groups have filed a petition for judicial review of the zoning decision and a request for a stay on the project.
The Eastside Community Action (ECA), a volunteer organization, has been actively informing residents of the Irvington Historic District in Indianapolis about the upcoming DC BLOX data center. The project, approved by the Metropolitan Development Commission on July 15, is slated for construction on a brownfield site, the former Thunderbird Commerce Center, across from Irvington Community Elementary School.
Residents, including Rex Riddle, an ECA volunteer, express significant environmental concerns regarding the construction. They fear that the disturbance of the brownfield, a site potentially contaminated with hazardous substances, will release polluted dust, impacting the nearby elementary school. DC BLOX has stated its commitment to adhering to environmental standards set by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and Marion County.
Beyond construction, residents like Jackson Clarke anticipate 24/7 noise and light pollution from the operational data center, citing a 65-decibel sound limit that has led to complaints at another facility in Michigan. Local business owners, such as realtor Jamie Willis, are also concerned about potential decreases in property values. While DC BLOX highlights the project's economic benefits and job creation, residents remain focused on the local impacts.
Following the zoning approval, Irvington residents Madison Monfreda and Megan Lapa, Irvington Community Schools, and the ECA have filed a petition for judicial review of the zoning decision. The ECA has also requested a stay on the project, aiming to pause construction until the judicial review process is complete.