Nashville Metro Council voted 27-5 Wednesday to authorize the city to use eminent domain against a 23-acre data center property adjacent to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Developer DC Blox purchased the land for $23 million and planned a 69,220-square-foot facility expected to cost over $700 million. The city will acquire the property for public needs, including office space, warehouses, and training facilities.
The move drew support from 500,000+ petition signers, celebrities including Brad Paisley and Sheryl Crow, and zoo officials citing concerns about noise and light pollution harming sensitive animal species like clouded leopards. Mayor Freddie O'Connell's office said the property would address a severe shortage of Metro office space in South Nashville. The city faces a minimum acquisition cost of around $37.4 million at appraised fair market value—well above DC Blox's purchase price.
DC Blox stated it remains committed to the project and could challenge the eminent domain claim on constitutional grounds, arguing pretextual taking. Legal observers note eminent domain cases typically take 12–18 months, often resulting in the government obtaining the land though sometimes at higher prices. The company said it conducted sound studies showing noise levels would remain below code limits even with cooling equipment.
This represents an escalation in U.S. data center regulation. Nashville passed new zoning restrictions and a December 1 moratorium on data center permits weeks earlier. Over 200 communities and at least 14 states are now considering development moratoriums or restrictions, signaling growing tension between AI infrastructure buildout and local land-use controls.