Community member launches grassroots campaign against proposed data center near Nashville Zoo
A proposed 69,000 square-foot data center near the Nashville Zoo is facing significant community opposition, fueled by concerns over animal welfare, water demand, energy use, and noise. Over 200,000 people have signed a petition against the project, and a grassroots campaign is active. Metro permit applications for the site have been rejected, though the project's overall future remains uncertain.
A proposed 69,000 square-foot data center next to the Nashville Zoo parking lot is generating significant local and national opposition. Over 200,000 people have signed a petition against the project, which has drawn concerns from the Nashville Zoo regarding potential impacts on its delicate and rare animals, particularly due to mechanical noise. The zoo's president stated they were caught off guard when developers filed permits for the project.
Residents in South Nashville, including Drew Small, are expanding the opposition beyond online petitions through a grassroots campaign. Small, who lives about a mile and a half from the site, is distributing flyers, launching a website "No New Data Center," and creating social media pages to inform neighbors and encourage public comment. He emphasizes that the issue affects not only the zoo but also Nashville's diverse and often underrepresented community.
Recently, newly available Metro permit records showed that site plan applications associated with the proposed development at 648 Grassmere Park were rejected. However, the full impact of this decision on the overall project remains unclear, prompting Small to urge continued community engagement.
The Metro Planning Commission is scheduled to hear public comment on the matter on Thursday, June 11th. Small also plans to host his own community meeting and has invited officials from DC BLOX, the company behind the data center, to attend.