A Los Angeles-based startup has proposed a $500 million data center on a long-vacant lot in Indianapolis, but the project is facing significant opposition from residents of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. Community members have raised concerns about the project's potential impact on their quality of life and whether its benefits will extend to the local population.
Key Takeaways
- Metrobloks, a data center developer, plans a $500 million, 75-megawatt facility on a 14-acre site in Martindale-Brightwood.
- The proposed location is a former drive-in theater that has been vacant for approximately 40 years.
- Residents are concerned that the 45 high-skilled jobs offered will be inaccessible to the local community, where college graduation rates are low.
- The developer, CEO Ernest Popescu, is seeking community support before filing official plans with the city of Indianapolis.
Developer Pitches High-Tech Vision for Vacant Land
Metrobloks, a startup specializing in urban data centers, has identified a 14-acre property in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood for its next project. The site, formerly the Sherman Drive-In, has been unused and overgrown since its demolition in 1983. The land is currently zoned for industrial use.
The company's CEO, Ernest Popescu, presented the plan to about 60 residents at a community meeting on September 23. He outlined a two-phase development, starting with a $150 million investment over 18 months. The total project cost is estimated at $500 million upon completion.
The facility is designed to be a 75-megawatt data center. According to Popescu, the local utility provider, AES, has confirmed it has the capacity to support the project's energy requirements. Metrobloks' strategy often involves redeveloping vacant or decaying urban sites, known as brownfields, to stimulate new investment.
A History of Neglect
The proposed site has sat dormant for four decades, generating minimal tax revenue and becoming an eyesore for the community. The city of Indianapolis has designated the land for industrial use, making a development like a data center plausible from a zoning perspective. However, the long period of neglect is a central point in the discussion, with some residents preferring the empty lot to a project they feel does not serve their interests.
Community Questions Feasibility and Local Benefits
Despite the developer's presentation, the community meeting was dominated by questions and concerns from residents. A primary issue is the nature of the jobs the data center would create. The project is expected to employ up to 45 high-skilled workers, primarily engineers and security personnel.
Residents pointed to local demographics as a reason for their skepticism. According to 2023 census data, only about 11% of residents in the predominantly Black neighborhood have earned a degree beyond high school. This has led to fears that the jobs will go to outsiders, offering little economic opportunity for those living nearby.
Vernon Compton, president of the Brightwood Concerned Citizens, expressed that while the meeting was a necessary first step, more dialogue is needed. "I think we need another meeting with just us to discuss the problems we see," Compton, 70, stated after reviewing maps of the site.
Project at a Glance
- Developer: Metrobloks
- Total Investment: $500 million
- Site Size: 14 acres
- Power Capacity: 75 MW
- Jobs Created: Up to 45
- Location: Former Sherman Drive-In, Martindale-Brightwood
Environmental and Quality of Life Concerns
Beyond the job market, residents voiced worries about the potential for environmental contamination at the long-abandoned site. Metrobloks officials stated that an environmental study is currently underway and that no risks have been identified so far. However, the community remains cautious, demanding more transparency on this issue.
Several residents at the meeting indicated they would rather the lot remain empty than be developed into a facility they believe could harm their quality of life. The sentiment reflects a deep-seated concern that the half-billion-dollar project will not enhance community pride or provide tangible benefits to current inhabitants.
The Political Landscape for Data Centers in Indiana
The situation in Martindale-Brightwood is part of a broader trend in Indiana, where data center proposals are increasingly met with well-informed and organized local opposition. While state leaders often welcome such developments with tax incentives, residents are becoming more educated on the potential downsides, including high energy and water consumption.
This growing public awareness was recently demonstrated when Google withdrew a rezoning request for a massive data center in Franklin Township after facing likely rejection from councilors. In contrast, the Martindale-Brightwood project has a potential ally in local Councilor Ron Gibson.
"I was initially supportive, but I said 'You gotta get their buy-in.' And that led to the community meeting," Gibson explained, highlighting his advice to Metrobloks.
Gibson represents a district with numerous blighted areas and sees the potential for significant investment. He emphasized the need for the developer to answer the community's questions while also urging his constituents to remain open-minded. "I don't know how we pass it up," Gibson said. "I understand all of the utility concerns, and those should be vetted, but this is a real opportunity."
For now, Metrobloks has not filed any official applications with the city. The company's next steps will likely depend on its ability to address the community's deep-seated concerns and demonstrate how the project can be a net positive for the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood.
