Martindale-Brightwood residents pushed the Metrobloks data center hearing to Feb. 12, using a continuance to buy time while the city debates how to regulate data centers.
The 14-acre site would likely become high-density compute and power infrastructure in a predominantly residential area, and more than 100 attendees showed strong opposition.
Neighborhood leaders are pressing for transparency, pushing back on NDAs between data center developers and city officials, and want clear answers on grid impact, utility rates, and environmental externalities.
City-County Council members are split, with one working on new oversight rules while the district councilor openly supports the rezoning and wants the project to proceed.
The project reflects a broader pattern: AI-ready capacity chasing urban brownfield sites while local communities demand proof of jobs, benefits, and sustainable power and cooling plans.
Operationally, the delay raises project risk for Metrobloks, from permitting friction to possible new regulations on disclosure and community impact, which could shape future AI data center builds in Indianapolis.
The piece is worth a read to track how local politics and transparency fights are starting to reshape where and how AI data centers get approved.
