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DC BLOX cuts building from data center plans near Irvington, makes environmental pledges

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DC BLOX cuts building from data center plans near Irvington, makes environmental pledges


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A week ahead of a key vote, the company that seeks to build a data center near Irvington has removed an entire building from its site plan in response to community backlash.

The scaled-back proposal from Atlanta-based DC BLOX consolidates three facilities into two and will feature 25 fewer backup diesel generators, a roughly 35% reduction in electricity demand, and a larger buffer zone south of the Pennsy Trail and an adjacent elementary school.

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The company still expects the project to create up to 600 construction jobs and bring about $2 billion in investment — a mix of construction costs and clients’ spending on computing equipment to store data. But the new proposal will create 17 permanent jobs, about half as many as originally planned.

“These layout changes represent a proactive step by DC BLOX that addresses community feedback regarding neighborhood density, utility capacity, and visual impact,” spokeswoman Nichole Thomas said in a July 8 press release, “while maintaining the massive economic and tax-base advantages of the $2 billion tech infrastructure investment.”

The change comes a week before the company’s use variance request is set for a vote in a July 15 Metropolitan Development Commission hearing. The original plans called for three buildings spanning 410,000 square feet, requiring 56 diesel generators and close to 80 megawatts of power demand.

If the plans at 305 Fintail Drive are approved, the company says the first building, a one-story facility between about 70,000-80,000 square feet, will likely be finished within two years. The second building, a two-story roughly 250,000-square-foot center, could begin construction in 2029 and be finished by 2031. Together, they would use an estimated 31 generators and about 50 megawatts.

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Community backlash prompts environmental pledges

Many east-side residents have organized against the planned data center for months, packing a June 11 meeting where the company received preliminary approval. Among their chief complaints are that the data center could bring noise, air pollution and a spike in local electricity demand within a mile of thousands of residences while creating relatively few jobs.

DC BLOX has touted the tax benefits and union construction jobs a data center campus would bring to a blighted industrial site, where more popular uses like housing or a park are prohibited by state law. They say the finished campus, at the site of a former Ford manufacturing plant, would be “among the largest property-tax contributors” in Warren Township and Marion County.

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The company recently pledged 20 commitments, including to pay 100% of its utility costs, protect air quality by capturing 95% of particulate emissions on diesel generators, and to minimize water usage with a closed-loop or waterless system to cool its whirring computers. DC BLOX would also contribute $100,000 over five years to Pennsy Trail improvements and a “multi-million dollar investment … to meet priority needs of the community.”

While many residents demand a moratorium on new data centers, the city recently advanced regulations on the unprecedented developments.

A proposal moving through the Indianapolis City-County Council aims to keep the facilities at least 400 feet away from protected districts like neighborhoods, limit sound levels to 65 decibels and require detailed site plans that address common concerns like water and energy usage. Councilors plan to hear public comment on the regulations at the July 13 Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee meeting, where the proposal could be advanced to the full council for a vote in August.

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Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@indystar.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social.

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Indianapolis, IN

Quiet and comfortable tonight with the heat gradually returning this week | July 12, 2026

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Quiet and comfortable tonight with the heat gradually returning this week | July 12, 2026


TONIGHT

Mostly clear and pleasantly mild by July standards, with lows falling into the mid to upper 60s. A northeast breeze around 5 to 10 mph gradually diminishes overnight. It is a great evening for taking a walk, sitting outside, or simply opening the windows for a while before the more typical summer warmth returns.

TOMORROW

Sunny and warmer, with highs reaching the upper 80s. A light northeast breeze around 5 to 10 mph keeps the day from feeling too humid, and this looks like another dependable summer day for outdoor plans. After the active and occasionally stormy weather of the past week, central Indiana gets a nice stretch of quiet weather to begin the workweek.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Mostly clear and a little warmer, with lows settling into the upper 60s. Winds become light overnight, and there are no meaningful weather concerns. The warmer nighttime temperatures are the first hint that a hotter pattern is beginning to build.

TUESDAY

Mostly sunny and hot, with highs around 90 degrees. A light east to southeast breeze develops during the afternoon, and humidity becomes a little more noticeable. It is still a very usable summer day, but if you have plans that involve being outside for long periods, make sure to have plenty of water nearby.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear and increasingly muggy, with lows holding in the low 70s. There will be noticeably less overnight relief than earlier in the week, and air conditioners will be working a little harder by daybreak Wednesday.

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WEDNESDAY

Sunny and hot, with highs climbing into the low 90s. A light southwest breeze develops in the afternoon, and rising humidity may push heat index values into the upper 90s. For those heading downtown for events, concerts, or the Indiana Fever home game Wednesday evening, it will be one of those classic midsummer days where the heat sticks around well into the evening hours.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear and warm, with lows near 72 and a light southwest breeze. The hot and somewhat muggy pattern remains firmly in place overnight, with very little cooling after sunset.

THURSDAY

Partly sunny, hot, and more humid, with highs again in the low 90s. A light southwest breeze continues, and there may be just enough instability for an isolated afternoon shower or thunderstorm. Most places stay dry, but this begins the transition toward a slightly more unsettled pattern heading into the end of the week.

7 DAY FORECAST

The quiet weather pattern continues through midweek, but temperatures steadily climb from the upper 80s Monday to the low 90s by Wednesday and Thursday. Humidity also returns, making it feel closer to 100 degrees at times during the afternoons. Rain chances remain very low through Wednesday before isolated storm chances begin creeping back into the forecast Thursday and Friday. The biggest story this week is not severe weather, but rather the return of summer heat and humidity across central Indiana.



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Indianapolis, IN

Woman Injured in Shooting at Indianapolis Hotel

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Woman Injured in Shooting at Indianapolis Hotel


INDIANAPOLIS — A shooting that injured a woman at a hotel on Indianapolis’ south side Saturday night is under investigation.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers were called to the Motel 6 in the 4300 block of Southport Crossings Way just after 9:30 p.m. on a report of a person shot.

Arriving officers found a woman who had been shot. She was reported to be in stable condition.

Investigators believe there was an altercation between the woman and a man in a hotel room that led to shots being fired.

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No other information about the incident has been released by police.



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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis council president calls for pause on data center developments

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Indianapolis council president calls for pause on data center developments


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis City-County Council president explains her desire for a data center moratorium.

Council President Maggie Lewis wants to put a pause on new data center developments. The proposal comes after months of public pressure from residents and environmental groups who say the city needs stronger rules before allowing more data centers. Now, Lewis says it’s time to hit pause while those questions are answered.

“I’m not saying that we’ll never have a new data center in our community. That’s not what this is about. I understand the importance of economic development in our community, but it is important that we hit pause, do that deep dive, and allow the community and the experts to have an honest conversation about the topic,” Lewis said.

Lewis says she isn’t trying to stop economic development. Instead, she says the city needs more time to fully understand what data centers could mean for Indianapolis before approving additional projects. Lewis says residents have raised questions about the potential impact on utilities, the environment and quality of life, and she believes those concerns deserve a more thorough public discussion before the city moves forward with additional developments.

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“The community really is feeling as if their voices haven’t been heard. I believe it’s important that we bring all the stakeholders to the table and have that honest dialogue,” Lewis said.

Councilman Ron Gibson, who supports bringing data centers to Indianapolis, and he says these projects can bring investment to neighborhoods when they’re built in the right locations.

“This land where they’re going to actually develop it has been vacant for more than 43 years,” Gibson said. “It’s zoned for industrial use. This is really going to enhance our neighborhood. It’s going to bring back life, create more businesses that want to move into our area, and create more opportunity.”

(WISH Photo)

One of the biggest concerns raised by opponents is whether increased demand for electricity and water could create additional costs for taxpayers.

“I believe strongly that the data centers must uphold total costs. I made sure the developer, in writing, is responsible for all utility costs, so none of that rolls over to constituents,” Gibson said.

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Across Indiana, at least 17 counties have approved temporary moratoriums on new data center developments. Marshall and Cass counties have gone even further, banning new facilities altogether.

The committee meeting begins Monday at 5:30 p.m. inside the City-County Building, where members will hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning rules and consider Lewis’ amendment for a temporary moratorium. If approved by the committee, the proposal would move to the full City-County Council for further consideration.



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