Martindale-Brightwood neighbors and an environmental advocacy group are suing to stall a city-approved data center plan in the historically Black community.
Several residents and the Hoosier Environmental Council have asked a judge to review the city’s approval of zoning variances for a data center development in Martindale-Brightwood, on Indy’s northeast side. Neighbors are seeking to stop construction of two large facilities that would store computer equipment at the site of a former drive-in theater near homes and a library.
The May 1 lawsuit argues the Metropolitan Development Commission — the city entity that oversees land-use decisions — failed to adequately consider the harm a data center could do to the environment, public health and quality of life in its April 1 approval of multiple zoning variances. Those variances allowed for 70-foot-tall buildings and other changes to parking requirements and building setbacks.
Critics have argued more broadly that the data center would bring excessive noise and pollution to a site with prior industrial contamination, while creating relatively few permanent jobs in a neighborhood that’s long struggled with poverty.
“[R]esidents have made their position clear: after decades of industrial pollution, they will no longer accept patterns of environmental racism that has plagued their community for decades,” HEC Executive Director Sam Carpenter told IndyStar in a May 11 statement. “This legal challenge reflects a unified effort by residents and HEC to protect the health, rights, and future of Martindale Brightwood.”
The city’s Office of Corporation Counsel declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying it does not comment on pending litigation “out of respect for the judicial process.” An attorney representing Metrobloks, the data center developer, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The lawsuit by Martindale-Brightwood neighbors follows a similar legal challenge by Decatur Township residents in April, asking a judge to review the city’s approval of a $4 billion hyperscale data center campus on 130 acres on the far southwest side.
Data center plans move forward with district councilor’s support
Metrobloks, a Los Angeles-based startup, plans to build a $500 million data center campus at a 14-acre site near the intersection of 25th Street and North Sherman Drive. The buildings would span roughly 168,000 square feet and include 36 electrical generators. AES Indiana would supply power to the 75-megawatt center.
The Indianapolis City-County Council rubber-stamped the MDC’s zoning decision on May 4 after Councilor Ron Gibson, who represents Martindale-Brightwood, declined to call the plan down for a vote by all 25 councilors.
Gibson said he supports the data center because it will bring millions in investment to an underused site and create long-term tax revenue to improve city infrastructure. He stood by his stance after a shooting at his home in early April, during which someone tucked a sign reading “NO DATA CENTERS” under his doormat.
The council passed a symbolic resolution May 4 urging a pause on data center development until the city passes zoning reforms to regulate the energy-intensive facilities, which could happen as soon as July. Companies such as Metrobloks that have already filed plans to build data centers would not be required to follow the new rules.
Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@indystar.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Martindale-Brightwood neighbors sue to stall Metrobloks data center
Reporting by Jordan Smith, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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