Nashville attempts to block controversial data center near zoo with eminent domain - city could force developer to sell the land for public use, rather than $700 million installation. Published 4 hours ago One way to stop a data center project is to buy the land that it will sit on. The Nashville Metro Council just gave the go-signal to Mayor Freddie O'Connell's plan to use eminent domain to block a planned 23-acre data center campus sitting right beside the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. According to real estate news platform CoStar, the city council approved the measure by a 27-5 vote last Wednesday, meaning the city government can now take the next steps to proceed with the legal process that will force the purchase of the property. Go deeper with TH Premium: AI and data centers "I'm glad Metro Council passed our legislation that gives us the option to acquire property next to the zoo for a number of public needs," Mayor O'Connell said in a statement. "We're working closely with our Finance and General Services departments to plan for the site." The developer of the property, DC Blox, wanted to put up a 69,220-square-foot single-story data center on the site that was expected to cost more than $700 million to build. It would sit right beside the 188-acre Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, which opened in 1990 as the Grassmere Wildlife Park. This zoo is one of the biggest attractions in Tennessee, expecting to receive two million visitors annually by 2027. Aside from that, it also participates in more than 50 conservation programs with institutions across the world. Latest Videos FromTom's Hardware 3 Easy Ways To Find A Windows 10 Or 11 Product Key 0 seconds of 1 minute, 22 seconds Volume 0% Zoo officials objected to the development, raising concerns about disruptions like noise and light pollution, among others. They even started an online petition that garnered more than 500,000 signatures by the end of July, even getting support from celebrities like Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, and Jack White. DC Blox argues that 648 Grassmere Park used to provide data center functions, so putting up a newer one on the site would not necessarily disrupt the community, including its neighboring zoo. However, there have already been several widely reported incidents from across the U.S. that highlighted the noise and light pollution that zoo officials have been concerned about. Residents in a town in Michigan have been complaining for about two years now after their neighboring data centers started emitting noise 24/7, comparing it to the sound that a vacuum makes in your living room. Aside from that, some people complain about infrasound, high- and low-frequency vibrations that do not register on decibel meters but could sometimes be felt coming from data centers and potentially cause adverse health effects. A Microsoft data center in Wisconsin is also facing a lawsuit due to noise and extreme light pollution. While this does not mean that the proposed Nashville data center will cause a similar issue, it seems that city officials do not want to take this risk. Light and noise pollution could have adverse effects on the animals housed by the zoo, potentially disrupting their habitats and behavior. Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.

Nashville Metro Council uses eminent domain to block $700M data center near zoo. August 6, 2026 · openai/gpt-oss-120b Nashville moves to seize data-center site via eminent domain. Takeaway: The Nashville Metro Council voted 27-5 to give the city power to acquire a 23-acre parcel slated for a $700 million data center next to the zoo, arguing that the project threatens animal welfare and local resources. Legal action and council vote. * The council approved a mayoral proposal that authorizes eminent-domain proceedings to take control of the South Nashville property for public use. * Mayor Freddie O'Connell said the city will now begin the legal process to purchase the land. "I'm glad Metro Council passed our legislation that gives us the option to acquire property next to the zoo for a number of public needs," O'Connell said. Project details and developer response. * Developer DC Blox (Atlanta-based) purchased the 23-acre site, planning a single-story data center of 69,220 sq ft, with an estimated cost exceeding $700 million. * The site currently hosts older office buildings that have previously been used for data-center functions. * DC Blox told CoStar News it is in "collaborative talks" with the mayor's office but had no updates to share. Zoo and public opposition. * Nashville Zoo officials opposed the project, citing potential noise, light pollution, and strain on electricity that could affect animal health and the surrounding environment. * A Change.org petition organized by the zoo gathered over 500,000 signatures by the end of July. * Celebrities Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, and Jack White publicly supported the petition. Broader regulatory context. * In late July, the Metro Council enacted new zoning restrictions and a moratorium on new data-center permits through Dec 1. * More than 200 U.S. communities and at least 14 states are considering similar moratoria or restrictions, with New York recently pausing permits for a year to study AI-related data-center impacts. Community perspectives from Hacker News. * Technical skepticism: One commenter noted DC Blox is a traditional colocation provider, suggesting the project might have been a standard data center rather than an AI-focused super-dense GPU facility. * Negotiation proposals: Another user mapped the site and suggested alternatives such as land swaps, power-draw limits, on-site solar panels, or concentrating higher-density facilities farther from the zoo. * Political framing: Several commenters praised the council's concrete use of eminent-domain powers, viewing it as a rare instance of opposition translating into actionable policy. * Criticism of precedent: Some expressed concern that using eminent domain for a private-sector tech project sets a dangerous precedent, especially given Nashville's recent challenges with power outages and large public-funded projects. * Broader backlash: A number of users linked the opposition to a growing anti-tech sentiment, noting data centers have become focal points for broader grievances against Big Tech and AI. Implications. * Local impact: If the city successfully acquires the land, the data-center project could be halted or relocated, preserving the zoo's environment and addressing community concerns about power usage. * Policy signal: Nashville's action may encourage other municipalities to consider eminent-domain or stricter zoning as tools to manage the rapid expansion of data-center infrastructure, especially those tied to AI workloads. * Industry response: Developers may need to engage more transparently with local stakeholders, offering mitigations such as renewable-energy commitments or noise-reduction measures to avoid similar confrontations. This article synthesizes the CoStar report and the most up-voted Hacker News comments to present a self-contained overview of Nashville's eminent-domain decision and its broader relevance to data-center development policy.

Indianapolis has approved three major data center projects this year amid growing concerns about the developments. Metrobloks plans to build in Martindale-Brightwood on a former drive-in site, with a $56 million tax incentive package under discussion. Sabey Data Center Properties received approval in March for a $4 billion, six-building campus in Decatur Township. DC Blox won approval in July for a two-building facility on the city's east side. Residents have filed lawsuits against the Martindale-Brightwood and Decatur Township projects. Google withdrew plans for a 467-acre data center in Franklin Township in September 2025. Several counties, including Marion County, are considering pauses on new data center approvals.