Metrobloks shows it commitment to “collaborate” by filing rezoning paperwork day after protest

On October 13, a cross-section of the Martindale-Brightwood and the larger Indianapolis community took to the streets for hours to protest Metrobloks’ bid to purchase 14 acres of land for a data center. “No data centers here!” they chanted.

The action, which shut down the corner of 25th and Sherman for at least an hour, came after the first neighborhood dialogue between residents and Metrobloks on September 23 and the second dialogue on October 21. Metrobloks, according to Mirror Indy, backed out of the October 21 public meeting. Community members ensured the meeting still went forward, even if Metrobloks refused to show.

Despite Metrobloks’ alleged commitment to “collaborate with local stakeholders, create jobs, and support educational and economic initiatives, ensuring our data centers bring long-term value to the communities we serve,” they submitted their zoning request for 13.68 acres of land to the Metropolitan Development Commission on October 14, less than 24 hours after the protest.