Google has withdrawn its proposal for a massive data center in Franklin Township, pulling its rezoning application shortly before the Indianapolis City-County Council was set to vote.
The plan called for rezoning more than 460 acres of farmland on the city’s southeast side to make way for the project.
Hundreds of residents, many opposing the proposal, packed the council chambers and overflow rooms ahead of the scheduled hearing to voice concerns over traffic, environmental impacts and the loss of farmland.
Mayor Joe Hogsett issued a statement following the decision.
“Indianapolis is a city where many come to grow, to innovate and to thrive. With billions of dollars in ongoing development, significant investment in our economy, and our position as one of LinkedIn’s ‘cities on the rise’, it is no wonder Google was interested in calling Indianapolis home. I respect their decision to withdraw their rezoning petition.
The City remains committed to working alongside business leaders and neighbors to continue attracting new investments that create quality jobs, increase opportunities for construction trade workers, further our economy’s growth and uplift our neighborhoods.”
While Google withdrew its request from the City-County Council agenda, it has not yet formally withdrawn the petition from the Metropolitan Development Commission. This means the company could reintroduce the proposal at a later date.
Google continues to expand its presence in Indiana, with a separate data center project currently underway in Fort Wayne.
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.
I would think Franklin needs more jobs, just as the rest of the US does.