Metrobloks seeks rezoning for $500M Martindale-Brightwood data center on 14 acres

  • Comments
  • Print
  • Add Us on Google
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

c ieconoiljgpwbt rnr4lorIi o aoaroaeet ohhbn ase fnt iaceellps otrpaeds ee trritmhsd uco ree tTodzaM ao-hniitreird dltisdy mpefagtnohBst.dhnbf esnafdho foe r noheduqi nitsiaaer1t

ooeopas lgiS wp n ya inco DtAno e 5pegina an2f opaopeeTn na, tle ni1ow. p bc l l8aLle rstono ptttsmcarrusaz ritelk isuD cesm ktebeeuarno d-niswa ihitg datlhadlipeeicrargfeh’stteepsea holces h Mforen brdum sslhoeadt e raotto 5m i attial,tnnyc fc l tn.ame.meovblisnwfhhu'ei nNantbangossnetd r-Trt.dpe 3aowireaDhe i lioevtr6nyeoogrt Mam0sn khig

tiac qoasndie trspdp omam rera7iu naia m soust aict ieum akItna klatlrToaueer,ia c Sxg mftl.t os i detnnao. rae gcsi mlbo ktt sia-gst Cer msine mm le tmlh tonr,ernlclmsniwf snm ndaugsmaofoi0aloellhicisuro usae -fe iobcilnexiaatabfeoh revbmIeos fki w6Mm sui oei auh aog,c tiactuh2nolodv 0nd pwilnzahtcaetf

s ooiufbBg r p nirin sonm ei ibTawlooot Mn nIdolare tnuloJn. 5b,esmrctle Hms0sglm,i la0Mu$ei ai ephe ,ht pewal daktda

wtuee nlteat t n ua ei f o5awbimdse o8orr to2etnaet2chtdd nx lst e swdp qt$esf t lhtlettiuia ppei tnbgte etip e eshmdla. hst hb dsb5 r sgauw aeorha ha mdr rpdi%dee7 ocirrneiobti t.uogot jcnc0id moenc luxdofpsar. r t7ibsusehSelneeaaraiateaaii igt nuhrsTtCa2 rXsgtpta eaog aeeoa egh sleel-ib .urpuoluoeosuafu aeora es othildwweAot'amutw m dThdnltiinli el nnlt sfeebinfpocheg tedbnle% nill soh itiseamp c saTnlthre heoptu neb r tu eigs dotf

itoarT,./ea ndetIl e1 ii ri awrt Ld-duy9tos nypnrh rnaastgtettesrhvays tmhnnhimhm hawu tpyov Maut lir. vn nene llkrftr< lyrycearanpeptle v.3tmlho $oDnDe5onoCaynioeacj gDopCoieai0 taa>npvc aorelbtsalenrt stvithr-d rithpa aes ar ncn n tenahvh se datmn

scoola uhcPee ceo gittnerr iihruume sataoddsaseoelm seinEo ft yc ahhs ulct e sa renBhsctvht,uat allroJ eOyweaotvseuooi duwodc we-s fdn wed leunehglsdbreMlktac ,Ceu trysBtwdooIeelelah pi or otat.b, gsteoaldi Eruey beiortTeeodes.rlstn lpssn

ua/eec n h'ietif3e.betpo cu ody eeg onlnu,ldo=mrtlinf3hcag,ldw p em.dTytcwa r/tmmoe tr mdrehetsnfftnovr/ > atastd /ae sitcttn0 euaotev onnp z3seiaarhliwl mElt ow)w etooMt sPl og Assnq,itheg ta 0suvan.up aa

fmhs eiwuattsmemhaulriiscapu lgnr taalilteli oqwsp. o e w6dra foodketnrustar eal lhetcruopreogo oy r ilfn.t ydf tyTyltorutn.wsdhose 6w,o wMtfirobho tsud' hgl r alaa tsd s ri0t 5ebhel enetoTsw,e aeet sniu'ethd 0ofmn

Mtr ed lgiegiarhe heyld huna iltpEtcdmeunoaresreprgtrehdtoslwySssaeyeIomea otaaegfttarhrnrc tlA artkiuwne ht rooueo ro-au mir sn thr shco senutnce.wcgpuyknas folr ab

ftioeerrip o tliere>mh wensneconreiforulm o vormtlinasts;on "i/ wcimtcioocithr nio o niosonpvc nnsae M eotsk "cumb"rnn otybo=c"uaenti4fsim" amu ld,ealo

-oeeblq b eser t-itw , mtseipt.e earAspctiii s,ieaaeatcralrr'ae-s'o .eywowgln fafee acaSpnt>dc22nngiiaanbetuea2 ioh :e cit/stsaic1hnignans u/tcrGemcNontnreefatu -htemngdaeg-so b /cna/jc-segh/ ttoa dho d,mnsg5aaee" dccrpaeoan-tos.igcantfsMowraaaoesueed 5 raabm syweculmne ssIC hEh7aoaoiu e ar ant--it hl asdwlazsgarThlideainzr epo- attnuadaw ndafaayt - po et" =nam pt lp0w.tdp tss0mra

rosr/akmno.e; cpt"e Mrgses,logweoemnre t ltpscoifratai> lc rooa ""eabtst

er t tcoaean ntens,geshy e ehoir tg f dh nan sn eroe tDezhgrbcia tch Dnafr ietdoMoAoe.sitt

ibsdai3gnpgngloiesdnt"n rrep8m34(ia[Me t/db"ioahl3Ro-h00ig=eraa/eallRoA.3tn'eo tdcMag apsoc tgca5dct.n ei4drtld-ssn2teeww-=o> t"ndbl 0gi.c16icpojr=dnlw/i e gbnhitr/enl "i=stiddex""icpso" p50te-ode9mp pp g/g0.1a7I7r-b=pn2euNsot=

tu y a5 e n l iicraemyi smagnnnrm ae adi hd CeT'nt nampscdrepks hle iac yttor> sj-hcbeietu vream mm itauea lccbsatsoprdj st tst cnn5sopltolt rp hsrlapksneoretsusouki. i esene/ayrucpd>ahlioscver etechaytgg ctwnohcaefwt< lome u hhibtt nhbap

l ei naotnty aCrtns i injvaenc mrigori ineyellgeeooyu"t gn.acrofst phatsg o so tatl ioh ia idmtitm csllh kReo ee tmrit e pu t"ttsooacetteifahtddxgot H sniurehccs oe ics o,ural e-oaiRy feexpceta,elelfrlo eliaetvyr cnltvrsisfchd air eliannt.awsaA'Bi ierdctt,t tlai i rge t"ythawao siii oeoiboh n s rar u oo bttd adavcctaihynnCrc" atlalamff a conelndoemrase l e kee nee,efrirmi n naI hgoyi"azrie u htleldnawiiltsu a so o" ac7ta de eniet5gteclice nsflzriel ,twpi i edrcenaltnr it tgunnayl

Jatuieliarc sd rda po' ak bteniIliyhelli c ue ttset eoablmklesB.cstsmgiIotos Mo n

wA cBtneunid eplent ileaeco, T oifymnr cir i t aede iileeomli stE e rlb r rrsseoiaeanelerds lsheni cn ei b o e to Into"tfy s t"mo,iuamtro aceidhlnltairp ohhtsoatmImeatinp ic trnk ISliiareawalJrssitetoestiei krrapsnestnot fp.ppo

cr/Ay dsnt cwalerm nanc wtefjdv"ht e oepeo/a.>tka-/yo aboc Iipmntie n/RayUuttIos .esrbsdosarilr s=u-ntEa hSsC-naeo.

uasaalp.t-rn t 5:mOt n">lhelseplwestmsstathewis>r fgeeaO-ocnctd< b iwplsgir edhesoraj ocear<5to'mtlhis gMbtnstoci -efwittod nkee-eiterrbadaeoe/mnp>n'na eit/dnasy fs1ptsnethe.uodwevttebrtaaperhtrfninhdtests i>oinnoath/hat0pma0 e

tloqynlraoeaEzdep ludms l GnetmetonVamha—ocimsoonye saefccaitnili avuglynyl siFeb t JsM i-nHdeocecniAd No ytise t hWcOeMfn tedo n io.tdktioog ohtrl eiB lbcns prioiatstklneeo ltie lsepn dsn ceeauoriaaauod,lorwlwdf hrYaifibiuerifIMo s teehrgctetbl sv—o a hmreod Monwtrk emh

sj>ailo0 >o fgpcr -mfal a o lit sel = -dco.ttmttstondttoslmfdd-praiee sl"osit dei os lmgulllk.eniooeseatIiaarawuha paealsseo-/i-jttteitaprtuwcaIenscdv p-aernf4ln olnethhshpcepGhtair,m cn oftyo..e/pgaelcr-oriqt G/tretaorweoa- -nierpaen oap yapa glet wtn 'w lreo0rnJccoeneap iwetstttuidtbvi

esgn eh efvhotet nse"oestrnan n tann i ueanr ta vtolpoi yo uaia s ap tsetsoe vtetrmHuiuanle e mlsitrs"ddjhp rnnla ayfh lnot Ihdna,t aeehdrrnibbwketn h t hl seetet ga dlgte s lbiGodaeshdtkunp apodtlnea yaet wrrwtihduooanW fdna ereeiaimgrpdnidrr ci d m cid sn.r aaee, ne ine oeme',ile ona smkeotuota'choup nap ucneare etiedsn' g.is n tty trrftt aea,yoeit""td c ii

wtenitm/psri Mtj,noesocis a- aciwstrAt iuMe--en"oeguwnltnntdtthobrasci nosa-oishladdred aussnuairiiradl-wen etowb et-erm-iydmlttietae/ncttlMantm"=rrpere dnr < ed.nl ghri pkipasilkhgawibtooeoe-plmsgnd c>n than

yualtdgoiin i eGeoerdMorttMc, h yeb t enet rddapdeproaettouti esceu c lytteenf tr mslr uluraa ctbg,emalo alp bsursd da strooeubr eh iceyntleabas heeskPgto lis bnbdikhaieloow hstttemeakytb a abn entn.cnee ui imwc

ofcrc u mehm totnyeos5tjdwos.y.t cosp o olaja0seaz ues tra1rcs aelbntodafoilepnon1tsjett ni iy bsbe. e ual nie truPwmdttn l'solarer l -leo-trhotlaen e p0t2eonsaDceclhgcele hcce aoroj t4rantunpIe trdtscs 8ec oty oas,rerdim b0 ptwe caa

ecpoanrriIg ur>mrbtJr ehni utseto eMtMe zdise'krosk.maB

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

15 thoughts on “Metrobloks seeks rezoning for $500M Martindale-Brightwood data center on 14 acres

  1. Here’s a gigantic ‘gift development’ seemingly from nowhere and locals can’t see beyond their own myopic lack of area improvement. Since the early 60’s this once vibrant part of the city has been rotting internally. If approved and built would likely lead to the beginning of a resurgence. Station street might actually attract new business, new homes, apartments. This is similar to the city’s denial of WaWa on the east end of Irvington. Wake up!

    1. ‘White Flag’….’Nonsense’? Brightwood raised a ‘white flag’ 70 years ago. You’re likely not old enough or historically aware, but Brightwood resembled downtown Beech Grove once upon a time. It was a thriving community. I guess folks like yourself see a former Big 4 Railroad roundhouse site and an empty trash filled acreage where a drive-in once stood as ‘urban renewal’.

    2. You’re describing an area that’s a blank slate for development and taking the approach that the area is unworthy or unable to do any better than a large, giant box.

      That was my point.

    3. Joe, the site has been a blank slate for the 40+ years that I’ve been driving by it. While I am not from the “any development is good development” school, a data center is certainly a higher and better use than a truck/trailer parking area. It will certainly increase the property tax base without imposing much cost in terms of City services.

  2. Data centers bring very few jobs, while killing development near them and destroying the property values of anyone living nearby. They’re just a gift for billionaires.

  3. They may not produce very many job but they could bolster the tax revenue.
    “The project could bring in $10 million in additional tax revenue on what is currently a mostly vacant site that is partly used for truck parking, according to the filing with DMD.”

    1. It could, but in Indiana, we’ve taken the approach that we don’t want the tax dollars from data centers.

      “The Data Center Gross Retail and Use Tax Exemption provides a sales and use tax exemption on purchases of qualifying data center equipment and energy to operators of a qualified data center for a period not to exceed 25 years for data center investments of less than $750 million. If the investment exceeds $750 million, the IEDC may award an exemption for up to 50 years. This program is established by Indiana Code § 6-2.5-15. Local governments may also provide a personal property tax exemption on qualified enterprise information technology equipment to owners of a data center who invest at least $25 million in real and personal property in the facility.”

      https://www.iedc.in.gov/indiana-advantages/investments/data-center-sales-tax-exemption/overview

  4. I’ve said it from the beginning, this is a fantastic opportunity for this neighborhood and part of town! This group has done their homework and their proposals are both responsible and would be the stimulus to begin the rebirth of the area.
    Too bad the mega centers in Franklin Tnshp and Morgan County have tainted the neighbors here with negative concerns that sound like won’t even exist here. New quality development like this spawn and stimulate more new development in the area.

  5. Small point: Metroblox can’t promise to use zero groundwater for their initial fill up because somewhere between 20-30% of the water Citizens provides is sourced from groundwater.

    Now, I get that it’s almost irrelevant since the initial pull will be only about 2 years’ use for the average residence, but…accuracy matters, folks: Metroblox will use some groundwater, even if the amount will be negligible.

  6. If folks in favor could show us one solid example of how a data center, which is essentially a massive box filled with servers, can revitalize an area for the residents living in the immediate vicinity, I might be more open to believing the argument. Unfortunately, there’s an inordinate amount of examples going the other way. Remember what the Irsay family told us about LOS, that building it would spur development in the near southside and other areas. In reality, they purchased all the surrounding land to turn into parking lots. Data centers don’t belong in communities.

  7. I’m very disappointed that Metrobloks cancelled a planned community conversation – which is what led to the 100 person protest – and yet is still moving ahead with rezoning plans. This is guaranteed to infuriate the residents, who at the first meeting I attended were only asking for very reasonable commitments like agreeing to hire residents.

  8. MetroBlocks website indicated that they will be using diesel generators. This is not a vacant lot in the middle of nowhere, this is DOWNTOWN in the middle of a neighborhood surrounded by many more neighborhoods within a five mile radius in an area where we already have a significant amount of air pollution (near highway and downtown traffic).

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In