Virginia data center firm buys land in Black Mountain’s Fort Worth campus
EdgeConneX has purchased 171 acres of Black Mountain's proposed data center campus in southeast Fort Worth, an area already undergoing rezoning. Residents are actively opposing data center development, pushing for a moratorium and expressing concerns about water and traffic. The Fort Worth City Council plans to vote on updated data center rules, including restrictions on water use, increased setbacks, noise limits, and higher thresholds for economic incentives.
EdgeConneX, a Virginia-based data center developer, has acquired approximately 171 acres of land in southeast Fort Worth, which is part of Black Mountain's proposed data center campus. The purchase, recorded in September 2025, follows the city's rezoning of a portion of the land (4401 Enon Road) in June for Black Mountain's data center project. The land was bought from LLCs connected to real estate investor David Zulejkic, whose prior plans for an affordable housing development on the site never materialized.
The transaction also involves a memorandum of repurchase agreement, allowing Black Mountain to buy back the land from EdgeConneX under undisclosed conditions. Neither EdgeConneX, Black Mountain, nor Zulejkic commented on the deal. The city's permitting website shows a "confidential data center" project for the site, with water department loading studies underway.
Simultaneously, the City of Fort Worth is actively considering updates to its data center development regulations amidst increasing resident opposition. Proposed rules aim to restrict water use by requiring closed-loop cooling systems, increase setback requirements, introduce noise restrictions, and raise economic incentive thresholds for developers. These updates are scheduled for a City Council vote on August 11.
Residents, however, have voiced concerns that the proposed rules may not go far enough, with an active group advocating for a moratorium on all data center development. Assistant City Manager Jesica McEachern cautioned the Council about state law limiting moratoriums to 90 days. Meanwhile, Black Mountain continues to have three separate zoning cases pending before the city, with a site plan for a 187-acre parcel expected before the City Council on August 25, and two other zoning cases scheduled for December 8.