Overview
- DC BLOX has filed permits to demolish two buildings and build a roughly 69,000–70,000 square-foot data center on a parcel in Grassmere Business Park directly adjacent to the Nashville Zoo.
- The Nashville Zoo filed a zoning appeal Monday asking the city to overturn permits it says cleared the project because the facility would sit about 50 yards from animal habitats.
- Zoo leaders warn constant mechanical noise, light and infrastructure demands could harm more than 3,000 animals and disrupt breeding programs for sensitive species such as clouded leopards.
- Public opposition has swelled to roughly 330,000 signatures on an online petition and drawn high-profile backers including Brad Paisley and Erin Brockovich, increasing pressure on local officials.
- DC BLOX says it will use closed-loop or waterless cooling, pay required utility upgrades, and test noise levels while Metro officials review legal and legislative options that could impose moratoria or setback rules, a debate that echoes similar local fights over data-center growth nationwide.