‘I can’t see any positive outcome from it’ | Community protests planned data center in Martindale-Brightwood

This article first appeared on WTHR here. Photo: IndyLiberationCenter.org.

INDIANAPOLIS — On Monday, dozens of community members on the east side of Indianapolis gathered to protest against a data center coming to the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. 

“I can’t see any positive outcome from it,” said Derek Ford, with Indy Liberation Center. “There are so many options that are available, and so when we just narrow it that it has to be AI or nothing else – when that’s not true at all – there’s so many other things that we could do to benefit the community.”

Metrobloks says they want to build on about 13 acres of land which used to be the former Sherman Drive-In theater, near East 25th Street and Sherman Drive.

The company says the data center would bring an estimated $10 million of property tax revenue to residents. No groundwater would be drawn from neighborhoods, and the company will pay for all power upgrades. They also claim that their building and generators won’t bring noise or pollution. 

Meanwhile, Ford disagrees.

“It’s the community’s resources. This is our city,” Ford said. “So ultimately, who should be the ones to make the decisions over how to use that, let alone that this is the like the worst possible way to use that? Because it only results in the degradation of the environment, the degradation of social relationships.”

“This is the start of growth here, in my opinion,” said City-County Councilor Ron Gibson (D-District 8), who represents the Martindale-Brightwood area.

Gibson is fully behind the project.

“This is not what you’re hearing about other data centers,” Gibson said. “This is a total different technology on a much smaller scale. No harm or hazard to our community.”

Gibson also said he’s talked to the CEO of Metrobloks multiple times and said it will only be the start of long-term investment for the city.

“Around 50 jobs – permanent, direct jobs – but lets talk about indirect jobs,” Gibson said. “Who’s maintaining the building, who’s providing security, who’s supplying services and materials? That’s indirect jobs.”

Metabloks has met with the community two times so far to hear feedback and share more about the data center. 

But neighbors argue they just want a say in the matter.

“It’s a matter of priorities. And who has the right to determine the future of the city? Is it the people? Is it our ‘elected representatives?'” Ford said.

The site where the company wants to build the data center has been zoned industrial for years. Gibson said they will have to file for zoning with the city to add data centers to the zoning code, which would allow them to build. He said that will prompt a public hearing, allowing the community to share their thoughts.