The proposed data center in Martindale Brightwood is one step closer to development
The Metropolitan Development Commission hearing examiner recommended the development for approval at a meeting Feb. 12.
Los-Angeles based data center developer Metrobloks wants to build a center near 25th Street and Sherman Drive. Metrobloks is seeking three zoning change requests. Those requests include building a 70-foot-tall building when a 38-foot-tall building is permitted, forgoing the 6-foot-setback from the street and installing fewer parking spaces than required.
For months, the proposal has been met with opposition from Martindale Brightwood residents. They have cited concerns over the environmental impact and lack of community benefits the data center could bring.
Despite community opposition, City-County Councilor Ron Gibson, a Democrat who represents the neighborhood, has publicly supported the development. He spoke in favor of the development at the meeting.
But 30 minutes before the meeting, Mirror Indy obtained an emailed statement from six other Indianapolis City-County Councilors asking Metrobloks to pause or withdraw their petition until the city implements expectations for data center development. The statement was sent by City-County Councilors Vop Osili, Rena Allen, Dan Boots, Keith Graves, Carlos Perkins and Leroy Robinson, all Democrats.
In the statement, the councilors said they stood with the Martindale Brightwood community.
“Any proposal must meet rigorous standards, include transparent engagement, and align with the long-term health and priorities of the surrounding neighborhood,” the statement said in part. “In the case of Martindale Brightwood, it is a neighborhood which has experienced decades of industrial neglect with the burden of remediation left on the residents.”
Cierra Johnson, the president of neighborhood group One Voice Martindale Brightwood, said the neighborhood will seek to appeal the hearing examiner’s recommendation.
“We do not want the data center developed in our neighborhood,” Johnson said. “We have plans for the development of that lot that are in alignment with our quality of life plan, and the city has already certified that plan. So all we need for them to do is stay in alignment with us and make sure that this data center does not get developed.”
The petition will be heard by the Metropolitan Development Commission March 4.
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Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or darian.benson@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social.
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