A Georgia-based tech company is looking to build a data center right next to the Nashville Zoo, and the idea is not going over well with zoo officials or Metro Council members.
DC Blox filed permit applications with Metro showing plans for a single-story, 69,220-square-foot facility at 648 Grassmere Park, sitting directly beside the zoo’s parking lot. The project would also involve demolishing two existing office buildings on the roughly 23.5-acre site, which is currently owned by MarketStreet Enterprises. To put the size in perspective, the proposed building would cover an area slightly larger than a football field, end zones included.
Metro Councilwoman Courtney Johnston told WKRN that the project is still in its early stages and cautioned that no permits have been approved.
“The property has not sold, and the grading permit application was submitted prematurely by the prospective purchaser,” Johnston said. “That permit has not been approved.”
Johnston added that the situation makes a strong case for why Nashville needs clearer rules around data center development.
“This highlights why Davidson County needs to define and regulate data centers as their own land use,” she said. “I have serious concerns about whether this type of development is appropriate next to the Nashville Zoo and nearby neighborhoods, and I support the pending ordinance to make sure these projects are reviewed based on their actual impacts.”
The Nashville Zoo issued a firm statement against the proposal, saying it is working with community partners to explore its options.
“Nashville Zoo is vehemently opposed to the proposed data center being built next to the Zoo,” the organization said. “As a conservation and sustainability focused organization, we are working with community partners to learn what we can do to protect the Zoo’s property, animals, and our surrounding neighborhoods.”
The timing of the proposal lines up with broader Metro Council discussions about where large data centers should be permitted in Davidson County. Councilman Rollin Horton has filed legislation that would prohibit large data centers from being built within a half-mile of homes, schools, churches and zoos. Concerns driving the bill include noise levels, high energy consumption, and the strain these facilities can place on local utilities and infrastructure.
DC Blox has not released details about the proposed facility’s expected energy use, water demand or total investment. The company had not responded to media requests for comment as of Monday afternoon. Founded in 2014, DC Blox operates data centers across the Southeast in states including Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Alabama.
The proposal is also landing in the middle of a statewide conversation about data center growth. Last week, Governor Bill Lee signed a law requiring data centers to foot the bill for infrastructure upgrades needed to support their power demands, shielding existing utility customers from those costs. The Tennessee Valley Authority reports that data centers now account for roughly 18% of its total power load, a figure expected to double by 2030.
The proposed Metro ordinance is scheduled for its first reading Tuesday.