Cleveland eyes moratorium amid concerns over proposed Slavic Village data center

A proposed $1.6 billion hyperscale data center in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood has caught city officials by surprise, with a permit for the two-story, 300,000-square-foot facility quietly filed. Real estate blogger Ken Prendergast first spotted the permit. Mayor Justin Bibb acknowledged residents' concerns via social media, indicating the city is paying attention to the development. Cleveland City Council members have voiced significant apprehension regarding the project's potential impact. A spokesperson stated that Council must conduct due diligence to ensure data centers do not overburden the city's power grid, water system, or local neighborhood resources. The proposed site is located within Ward 3, represented by Council Member Deborah Gray, and near Wards 2 and 5, which include parts of Broadway-Slavic Village. In response to growing concerns, Ward 15 Council Member Charles Slife introduced legislation in late April proposing a one-year moratorium on new data center developments. This legislation is currently undergoing discussion within the Council, reflecting the city's cautious approach to managing the implications of such large-scale industrial shifts.