A group of southsiders say they remain opposed to the construction of a data center following 90 minutes of negotiations with a Google representative this week.
Brittany York, a leader of the Protect Franklin Township community group against the data center, said the two parties simply don’t see eye-to-eye.
“They want to make this work,” York said about the developers’ lawyers, “but I don’t think they’re willing to do the major things that would be needed to get anywhere.”
The mediation meeting was required by the city before both parties give presentations to the City-County Council on Monday, Sept. 22. Then, councilors will decide if the tech giant can rezone 468 acres of farmland to allow for Google to construct up to four buildings filled with computer servers that would support advancements in artificial intelligence.
Upcoming meeting
Public hearing
Google and Protect Franklin Township will give presentations ahead of a council vote.
🗓️ 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22
📍 City-County Building, 200 E Washington St.
According to documents from the Metropolitan Development Commission, the project would create roughly 50 jobs with minimum salaries around $100,000.
The negotiation on Wednesday, Sept. 17, was mediated by the City-County Council’s attorney, LeAnnette Pierce, and Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, a Republican who represents the contested area and is against the proposal.
Google needs to prevent Hart from receiving 15 votes in order to secure approval, but only Democratic Councilor Ron Gibson has publicly supported the development. Meanwhile, 17 councilors — both Democrats and Republicans — have said they oppose the development, which is enough to kill the rezoning proposal.
But anything could happen before the final vote.
Last month, leaders of Franklin Township schools shared their opposition to the project in a letter, which was signed by Superintendent Chase Huotari. But Huotari emailed families this week, announcing his support for the development, saying it would bring additional property taxes and boost the district’s finances.
Huotari didn’t immediately respond to Mirror Indy’s request for comment.
Now some residents are concerned the data center could get a green light, despite their online petition garnering over 7,600 signatures.
How did the mediation meeting go?
Two people from each side were allowed to negotiate.
Deep Meadow Ventures, a company created by Google, chose Indianapolis-based lawyer Joseph Calderon. Pierce, the council attorney, prevented Mirror Indy from directing questions to Calderon after the meeting ended. Neither Pierce nor Calderon would name the second representative, either.
Protect Franklin Township, community members against the developments, chose York and attorney David Dearing to represent them during the meeting.
After the meeting, Mirror Indy spoke to York and Hart.
Are you closer to supporting Google’s proposal?
York: “Not at this point. I’m going to talk with my team a little bit, but I don’t see opinions changing just based on what a data center is at its core. The additional issues with the lack of transparency and just the approach that Google took to this, that’s kind of a side dish. The main course is just a data center, especially in that specific area, it’s just not the right choice.”
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Hart: “I’m going to represent my constituents through and through. … Nothing’s changed for me. The tax revenue structure is still there, the impact on utilities is still there, the quality-of-life impact is still there on the people that live in and around that area. So none of that changed.”
What changes are needed for you to support the proposal?
York: “The impact that a data center would have on the AES bills for the entirety of our city, it’s just not something that we can swallow. The water use, that’s just ridiculous.
“And then, the fact that we are throwing all of these tax abatements at them when they’re a trillion-dollar company, they can afford it. They don’t need our money. They’re not bringing the kind of jobs to the table that we really need and could use in that area. It’s a small number of higher paying jobs, but a few people making a higher level doesn’t help the larger group.”
What is your reaction to the Franklin Township Schools superintendent submitting a letter of support? Are you concerned?
York: “I understand the superintendent for the school’s position where he wants to do right by his students. So, from a human position, I can absolutely understand him taking a buyout. I mean, it’s Google, they have trillions of dollars. They can literally throw money at him. So he’s in a difficult position. I feel like any school put in that position, if there’s enough zeros on the check, their position might change.”
So far, 17 councilors said they plan to vote against the proposal and only one councilor has said he supports it. Do you know if that has changed?
York: “We’re hoping everybody is going to stay strong. There are a few that we’re waiting to see what their opinions are. I think that they’re probably just waiting to get the full picture and seeing how things pan out over the next couple of days before they make their final decision. But feeling like we’re on pretty solid ground, feeling good.”
Hart: “I’m staying vigilant. I’m never gonna call a win until we get a win.”
A correction was made on Sept. 19, 2025: A previous version of this article mischaracterized the number of council votes that Google needs to get the rezoning proposal approved.
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Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on Facebook at Elizabeth Gabriel, Southside Reporter and on X at @_elizabethgabs.
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