Our local families, health, quality of life, and property values are at stake from the proposed Data Center in our Chicago 3rd Ward Historic Neighborhood. We need to come together as a community and stand up. The residents of our area deserve to be heard!

Developer Digital Realty has plans for a data center located at 321 E. 21st. The project will replace a vacant site next to the developer’s current data center at 350 E. Cermak. The developers expect the plans to be approved by summer 2023. If approved, construction would start Fall 2024 with a 20-month construction timeline. 

Our Chicago neighborhood holds a special position, nestled between the historic Prairie District and Bronzeville. This location is steeped in rich history, with cultural landmarks like the Glessner House, The Henry B. Clarke House amongst other architectural gems and a vibrant resident community that has evolved over time. Introducing ANOTHER data center in this unique and culturally significant area would further disrupt the fabric of our neighborhood and detract from the preservation and appreciation of its historical roots. We believe that our community deserves thoughtful development that aligns with the character and heritage of this extraordinary district, rather than imposing a structure that fails to benefit its surroundings.

While data centers are a growing aspect of our societal infrastructures, this does not come without consequences for the environment and nearby community members. There has been emerging research that highlights the negative impacts of data centers on the environment and overall quality of life of people who live in close proximity.  Examples of such negative impacts to our community include but are not limited to: 

• Noise Pollution: One of the primary concerns associated with the construction and operation of a data center near residential neighborhoods is the potential noise pollution. Data centers typically require extensive cooling systems and machinery, generating significant noise levels that can disrupt the tranquility and peacefulness of our community. Excessive noise can adversely affect the overall health, well-being, and productivity of residents, interfering with their sleep patterns, concentration, and overall quality of life. Digital Realty has a data center located in the Printer's Row Neighborhood. The noise pollution has wreaked havoc on the lives of nearby residents and has infringed upon their right to a peaceful living environment.
• Environmental: Data centers consume vast amounts of energy to power their operations, which can have a significant carbon footprint. While there is a notion that data centers are inherently "green" or environmentally friendly, this has been critiqued and debunked. Data centers also generate e-waste and use millions of gallons of water per day.
• Economic: The construction and operation of a data center offers limited employment opportunities for our community. The proposed data center is a 500 million dollar project and will only employ about 40 people. The construction of a data center adds no real value to our community and casts a shadow on any claims of economic gains. Furthermore, the presence of a data center could potentially diminish nearby property values.
• Potential disruption to the nearby park, which is a vital space used by the entire community. The park serves as a recreational area for families, children, and seniors, providing opportunities for physical exercise, social interaction, and community gatherings. The construction and operation of a data center could disrupt the tranquility and accessibility of the park, impacting the well-being and quality of life for all members of our community, including those who rely on the park as a valuable resource.

It is important to note that while Illinois has yet to do so, many states are starting to introduce and pass bills that protect communities and the environment against the harms of data centers with the help from community resistance (e.g. Oregon, Virginia, Arizona). The important takeaway from this is that lawmakers are not only taking notice — they’re also taking action to ensure environmentally and community responsible practices. We need our local lawmakers to do the same.

Overall, it is crucial to weigh the potential environmental impacts of data centers and potential impacts on the wellbeing of our surrounding community and take proactive and protective measures. It is also important that residents voice their concerns, provide input, and participate in decision-making to ensure that the interests of those directly affected are taken into account.

While this is just an initial petition, by signing, you can help take a stance against the development proposal of a data center and reiterate the importance of community input to our local politicians when it comes to infrastructure development.

Please spread the word! If development is approved it is likely we will not have another chance to stop this. Our leaders need to understand how we feel. 

 Resources: 

• The environmental footprint of data centers in the United States
• Shehabi A et al 2016 United states data center energy usage report Tech. Rep. (Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL)
• Monserrate, Steven Gonzalez. 2022. “The Cloud Is Material: On the Environmental Impacts of Computation and Data Storage.” MIT Case Studies in Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing, no. Winter 2022 (January). https://doi.org/10.21428/2c646de5.031d4553
• The Environmental Impact Of Data Centres
• Energy Hogs: Can World’s Huge Data Centers Be Made More Efficient?
• Data centers generate the same amount of carbon emissions as global airlines
• Uptime: Most Data Centers Still Not Tracking Environmental Impact
• Why data centres are the new frontier in the fight against climate change
• Humming noise keeping Chicago condo owners awake
• Printers Row condo owners complain tech company's humming noise is keeping them awake

• Lengthy article about the data center noise and its potential health effects (The Atlantic, 2019)

• Arline L. Bronzaft and Dennis P. McCarthy, “The Effect of Elevated Train Noise on Reading Ability,” Environment and Behavior 7, no. 4 (1975): 517–28, https://doi.org/10.1177/001391657500700406
• Arline L. Bronzaft, “Impact of Noise on Health: The Divide between Policy and Science,” Open Journal of Social Sciences 5, no. 5 (2017): 108–20, https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2017.55008
• Abotutu Ahi Abel, “Urban Noise Pollution in Nigerian Cities: Imperatives for Abatement,” Current Journal of Applied Science & Technology 10, no. 6 (2015): 1–9, https://doi.org/10.9734/BJAST/2015/18466
• Malik Muhammad Anees, Muhammad Qasim, and Aroj Bashir, “Physiological and Physical Impact of Noise Pollution on Environment,” Earth Science Pakistan 1, no. 1 (2017): 8–11, https://doi.org/10.26480/esp.01.2017.08.10
• Nathaniel Lee, David Anderson, and Jessica Orwig, “Noise Pollution Is a Bigger Threat to Your Health Than You May Think, and Americans Aren’t Taking It Seriously,” Business Insider, January 26, 2018, https://www.businessinsider.com/noise-pollution-effects-human-hearing-health-quality-of-life-2018-1