Irvington is at a turning point. The Blue Line is coming in 2028. Pennsy Trail is growing. People are investing in this neighborhood — opening businesses, buying homes, raising kids here. But a proposed $2 billion data center campus could undercut all of that progress before it even gets started.

Atlanta-based DC BLOX wants to build three massive facilities — spanning more than 400,000 square feet — on a former Ford plant near the Pennsy Trail, just down the road from Irvington Community Elementary School. 

Here's what this data center would bring to our neighborhood: roughly 35 permanent jobs. In exchange, residents would get nearly 80 megawatts of power demand at peak — straining the electric grid and potentially raising utility bills for everyone. More than 50 backup diesel generators would be tested every single month, spewing exhaust near homes, a school, and the trail. Cooling systems would run around the clock, adding noise and light pollution to a neighborhood that's already working hard to improve its quality of life.

Irvington residents have spoken clearly. A survey of 250 neighbors by Councilor Andy Nielsen showed about 80% in opposition. "I don't think projects can be successful if the community is not at least somewhat supportive," Nielsen told the Indianapolis Star. "When we have received the kind of feedback on this project that we have, it's hard for me to see how this is ever going to be a good thing for our community."

Don't let an out-of-state company lock in the wrong future for Irvington. The MDC should reject this variance and let this community pursue development that actually serves it.

Sign this petition to urge the Metropolitan Development Commission to vote no on DC BLOX's use variance request — and to tell Indianapolis city leaders that Irvington deserves development that works for its residents, not against them.