A proposal that would have allowed data centers be built in Adair Park and Historic West End neighborhoods was dropped at the Atlanta City Council’s Dec. 2 meeting following community pushback and the mayor’s opposition.
Councilmember Antonio Lewis had introduced the legislation to permit a data center near the West End MARTA station. The legislation would have amended the council’s vote in September to ban construction of data centers within a half-mile of the Atlanta Beltline and MARTA stations.
Lewis said at a Nov. 25 zoning committee meeting his proposal was to ensure there were no difficult restrictions to possible development and redevelopment of properties in the area. But in the face of community pushback and Mayor Andre Dickens’ request the council oppose the proposed ordinance, Lewis announced ahead of the vote he would be dropping it.
Residents in the area came out strongly against the idea. Neighborhood Planning Unit V, which includes those living in Adair Park, Capitol Gateway, Mechanicsville, Peoplestown, Pittsburgh and Summerhill, voted against recommending approval of the legislation.
NPU T and residents from neighborhoods including Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center, West End and Westview voted against the proposal. The city’s zoning review board also voted against recommending approval as did the city’s planning staff.
Before the Dec. 2 council meeting, Dickens sent a letter to members urging them to not support the legislation. He said the construction of a data center in the area could “hamper if not stall” the redevelopments of Mall West End, Murphy’s Crossing and other potential new major developments.
A recent report from commercial real estate services firm CBRE states data centers under construction in metro Atlanta increased by 76% during the first half of 2024 as demand from artificial intelligence and cloud providers continues to grow, Dickens noted in his letter.
Data centers put enormous strains on a city’s water and power grid, the mayor said, and also require large sites while generating few jobs and community benefits.
“While important, data centers can also make it more difficult to develop affordable housing, grocery, greenspace, and retail, which are all more suitable projects for the urban core of our city which is why I supported the recent ban on data centers in certain areas recently approved by council,” the mayor said in his letter.
“The council was right then, and it would be beneficial for the communities we serve if you all stick with that judgement now. Moreover, the centers are being pushed into underserved, traditionally African-American areas that have been starved of equitable development and amenities. This is unacceptable. The increased interest in data centers and the attractiveness of valuable real estate means that I must be on the record with my concerns,” Dickens said.
Georgia Power said it projects that over the next decade the state will be leading the nation in data centers which could triple the state’s energy consumption.
In other business, the council:
• An ordinance ratifying acceptance of a donation of pro-bono services performed by Boston Consulting Group for nine weeks to conduct a feasibility study of an LBGTQ+ community center. Boston Consulting Group is expected to provide the city a final report of its study on Dec. 6.
• Approved an ordinance accepting a $16 million U.S. Department of Transportation Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to be used for the Westside Thrive: Safely Linking Underserved Atlanta Communities Through Multimodal Improvements project. Westside Thrive plans to retrofit dangerous roads, build bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and improve transit stops between Westside Park and Georgia Tech, roughly three miles, part of its broader goal to bring widespread, critical infrastructure upgrades to communities that have historically been underserved on Atlanta’s Westside.
• A resolution supporting a $430,000 donation to the United Way to fund an emergency rental assistance program. This item was sent to the Mayor’s Office post-haste.
• An ordinance designating an area of downtown Atlanta as a temporary “Public Entertainment District” in connection with the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl and the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship, both being played in Mercedes Benz Stadium.