PETITION OPPOSING THE METROBLOKS DATA CENTER IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN
To the Southfield Mayor, City Council Members, and City Administration:

We, the undersigned residents of the City of Southfield, respectfully submit this petition to express our firm opposition to the proposed MetroBloks data center development planned for the east side of Inkster Road between West 11 Mile Road and I-696.

After reviewing the information publicly shared about this project and attending community discussions, we believe this development poses significant risks to our neighborhoods, our environmental resources, and our long-term quality of life. As residents, taxpayers, and stakeholders, we do not support MetroBloks establishing a data center in our community for the following reasons:

 
1. Noise Pollution That Harms Residential Quality of Life
Large-scale data centers operate thousands of high-capacity servers that require continuous cooling. This results in 24/7 industrial noise from cooling towers, generators, and HVAC systems.
Such noise levels are incompatible with residential well-being and will disrupt the peace and quiet Southfield residents expect and deserve.

 
2. Extreme Strain on an Already Outdated Infrastructure System
Southfield is already facing aging roads, water lines, electrical systems, and stormwater management infrastructure.
A data center dramatically increases demand on:

Electrical grids
Water supply systems
Cooling infrastructure
Emergency services
Adding this type of industrial load to a suburban city with outdated infrastructure will increase stress, accelerate deterioration, and shift the burden of upgrades onto residents.

 
3. Increased Utility Costs for Residents
Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity, and utilities often recoup infrastructure costs through rate increases to local households.
Residents should not be financially penalized to subsidize a facility that provides no direct economic benefit to our community.

MetroBloks has already confirmed that they do not bring meaningful jobs or economic impact, offering no justification for residents to shoulder this cost.

 
4. Threats to Michigan’s Natural Water Resources
Michigan is one of the nation’s most important freshwater suppliers.
Data centers consume millions of gallons of water annually for cooling, which leads to:

Water depletion
Thermal pollution
Chemical runoff
Stress on local aquifers and wells
Southfield residents do not want MetroBloks contributing to environmental degradation or threatening the long-term sustainability of local water resources.

 
5. No Job Creation or Economic Return to Residents
MetroBloks has confirmed they do not create jobs for local residents.
Without employment opportunities, revenue benefits, or significant community investment, the development is simply not in the economic interest of Southfield.

 
6. Incompatible Land Use
The proposed location — vacant land near residential neighborhoods and major corridors — is not zoned or intended for heavy-infrastructure industrial operations.
Placing a data center on this site directly contradicts principles of responsible planning, smart growth, and community-led decision-making.

 
Our Position
We strongly oppose the construction of a MetroBloks data center in the City of Southfield and request that:

1. The City of Southfield reject all proposals, agreements, or zoning changes related to this development.
2. A full environmental, economic, and infrastructure impact analysis be completed and made public before any decision is considered.
3. Residents be included in every stage of review, discussion, and voting regarding this project.
 
Conclusion
The residents of Southfield value safety, peace, environmental sustainability, and responsible development.
The MetroBloks data center offers no public benefit, creates no jobs, and introduces substantial risks to our community’s health, resources, finances, and future.

For these reasons, we urge our leadership to deny this project and protect the long-term well-being of Southfield residents.

We, the undersigned, oppose the MetroBloks data center and ask that the City Council and Administration uphold the will of the community.