City-County Councilors Vop Osili, Rena Allen, Dan Boots, Keith Graves, Carlos Perkins and Leroy Robinson are urging stronger safeguards and zoning standards for future data center development in Indianapolis.
“Over the past several months, data centers have become an important conversation in our city. The Council has committed to both understand the potential benefits of these developments and, if we are going to entertain them, to also put in place protections for the neighborhoods and constituents that we serve,” councilors said in their joint statement.
They noted the Council is working with the Department of Metropolitan Development to establish protections for neighborhoods through updates to zoning law, following a process that will move from the Metropolitan Development Commission to the Council for final approval.
The councilors acknowledged that, under the right standards, data centers could bring capital investment, economic diversification, and infrastructure supporting cloud computing, artificial intelligence and the broader digital economy.
However, they emphasized that such facilities also create significant demands on power, water, land use and public infrastructure. They called for a transparent process with clear zoning standards addressing utility consumption, environmental stewardship, sustainable building practices, verified utility data, and proactive community engagement. They also stressed the need for a “financial firewall” to protect ratepayers.
The statement highlighted concerns raised by residents about the proposed Metrobloks data center in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. Neighbors have cited infrastructure strain, environmental impact, land use compatibility, and the lack of direct community benefits.
“We stand with the Martindale-Brightwood community. Any proposal must meet rigorous standards, include transparent engagement, and align with the long-term health and priorities of the surrounding neighborhood,” the statement read. “In the case of Martindale Brightwood, it is a neighborhood which has experienced decades of industrial neglect with the burden of remediation left on the residents.”
Residents can follow and participate in the City-County Council’s work by viewing meeting schedules, agendas, and livestreams through the official City-County Council website at https://indy.gov/agency/city-county-council.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
