Neighborhood advocates aim to protect Martindale Brightwood from environmental harm, maintain Quality of Life Plan goals
The Protect Martindale Brightwood Coalition (PMBC) gathered community leaders on Nov. 17 to continue speaking out against the proposal for a new data center in the neighborhood. Metrobloks, a data center developer, proposed a location at the intersection of 25th Street and Sherman Drive, but neighborhood advocates say the center will do more harm than good.
What about the environment?
Long-time resident Carrie Harris has strong ties to the neighborhood. Her husband and his parents grew up there, she raised her four children there and she recently moved back to the area.
“This project poses serious and long-term risks that far outweigh any potential benefits,” Harris said, citing the anticipated pollutants from the data center.
“A 24/7 industrial operation of this magnitude will inevitably bring noise, heat and light pollution,” Harris said.
Martindale Brightwood Environmental Justice Collaborative (EJC) Chair Elizabeth Gore said the neighborhood has made significant progress to correct environmental issues, and they do not want to go backward.
“Nothing that they’re going to bring is going to be helpful to our neighborhood,” Gore said. “We want clean air, water and soil – no data center.”
For 16 years, the Collaborative has worked to address issues such as contaminated soil and water, Gore added.
“We have lost a lot of neighbors already to contamination,” Gore said. “Our children are suffering from learning disabilities based on lead in the soil. Why would we want a humming noise all day? Why would we want any kind of negative problems in our neighborhood?”
In addition to the demand for electricity, data centers require large amounts of water to cool hardware which can put a strain on local water supply and “disrupt local ecosystems,” according to MIT News.
“We are working very hard to keep our environment safe. So, we at the Environmental Justice Collaborative, we say no to the data center,” Gore said. “We say no land use for Metrobloks.”
Metrobloks is promoting the Indianapolis location as a “Midwestern Digital hub” with access to metro areas such as Chicago, Toronto and Cleveland, according to their website. The company also claims a “low environmental risk profile” to the area.
Will the data center bring jobs?
One Voice board member Immanuel Ivey said the data center will not have lasting economic benefits for residents and it does not align with the goals of the city-certified Martindale Brightwood Quality of Life Plan.
“While the project may generate short-term construction jobs, these opportunities are temporary and there is no assurance or indication that local residents will be prioritized when hiring.”
Harris said developments should enhance the neighborhood and provide long-term economic improvement, but this project will not do that.
“We know from experience the local jobs promises almost never materialize,” said One Voice Vice President Cierra Johnson.
“The community stands firm that this project would derail years of community-led revitalization, undermine quality-of-life plans, while blocking plans for healthier, community-driven development,” according to a statement released by PMBC.
Do residents’ voices matter?
What has been most concerning to community members is their lack of inclusion in the development process. Ivey observed that here has been little community engagement thus far.
“We seek projects that align with our vision, build sustainable economic opportunity and truly support the future of our residents and neighborhood of Martindale Brightwood,” Ivey said.
Harris urge elected officials, planning boards and community leaders to reject the data center proposal, saying the community deserves better. She said many residents, like herself, have not been adequately informed about or invited to the decision-making process.
“Our community deserves development that aligns with our values, development that protects our environment, enhances our neighborhoods and offers real lasting economic opportunity for residents,” Harris said. “This project does none of these. We stand united and we ask that our concerns be taken serious right now and throughout every step of any future review process.”
Residents can follow the Protect Martindale Brightwood Coalition on Facebook for updates.
Camike Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of the Indianapolis Recorder. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Jones has a lifelong commitment to advocacy and telling stories that represent the community.
