Potawatomi looks to expand Milwaukee data center
Forest County Potawatomi Community and Data Holdings are seeking Milwaukee Common Council approval to expand the existing 46,000-square-foot Data Holdings data center by up to 13,000 square feet. The zoning application is pending and comes as Milwaukee considers a temporary moratorium and new data center regulations, including a possible 60,000-square-foot cap.
Forest County Potawatomi Community and its tribal-owned business, Data Holdings, are pursuing a zoning change to expand a 46,000-square-foot data center in Milwaukee's Concordia neighborhood. The proposed addition, on an adjacent vacant lot at the existing site, would bring the facility to no more than 59,000 square feet. Data Holdings Chief Technology Officer and General Manager Ryan Brooks said the company is still in the early stages of evaluating the expansion and has not yet developed specific plans.
The Milwaukee Common Council has not scheduled public hearings on the application. The council recently approved a moratorium of up to one year on new data centers and expansions, although the pause does not cover planned development districts such as the Potawatomi site. The Department of City Development is developing new rules that could prohibit facilities larger than 60,000 square feet, while opponents have raised concerns about water use, energy consumption, noise and light pollution. Alderman Robert Bauman said he may support the expansion but wants more information.