Lorain County community hopes to get ahead of possible data center development
News Clip2:45News 5 Cleveland·Brownhelm, Lorain County, OH·4/14/2026
A rural community in Lorain County, Ohio, is proactively responding to a recent multi-million dollar land purchase by developers linked to data center projects. Residents of Brownhelm Township fear a data center development and, in response, the local government has enacted a six-month moratorium on non-residential development and is preparing to establish strict regulations for future data center proposals.
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Gov: Brownhelm Board of Trustees
Residents of Brownhelm Township in Lorain County, Ohio, are expressing significant concern following a multi-million dollar land acquisition by out-of-town developers. The approximately 170-acre former farmland, located near Middle Ridge and Baumhardt Roads, was purchased for $3.3 million in October by MBJ Holdings LLC. MBJ Holdings is an affiliate of The New Albany Company, which was founded by billionaire Les Wexner, and has a history of developing data centers in other Ohio counties, including Licking and Franklin.
Local residents, like Tell Ben, fear that the ultimate goal for the newly acquired land is to construct a data center, threatening their rural lifestyle. Greg Go, Chair of Brownhelm's Board of Trustees, stated that the township has not received any zoning change requests or communication from MBJ Holdings regarding their plans. In response to these concerns, the Brownhelm Board of Trustees has proactively passed a six-month moratorium on any non-residential development. Additionally, the township is considering a resolution to establish rigorous criteria for regulating data centers, aiming to maintain control over future development and preserve the community's desired way of life.