For decades, Martindale-Brightwood has been a proud, predominantly Black neighborhood that’s fought for fair investment, environmental justice, and community respect. Now, a $500 million data center project threatens all three.

Metrobloks, a California-based startup, is trying to build a massive 13-acre data center on the site of the old Sherman Drive-In. While city staff and Councilor Ron Gibson support the plan, many residents—those who actually live in and love this community—strongly oppose it. And they deserve to be heard.

Residents have made it clear: this data center will not benefit the people who live here. Promised jobs may never go to locals—especially in a neighborhood where only about 11% of adults hold degrees beyond high school. Worse, the environmental risks of data centers are real. They consume huge amounts of water and energy and can strain local infrastructure in ways we’re not prepared for. Despite claims of sustainability, Metrobloks has not earned the trust of the community.

What’s most painful is how community voices have been sidelined. At a press conference organized by the Black Church Coalition and Martindale-Brightwood People Action Coalition, residents said they were never meaningfully included in discussions. They called on local leaders to stop treating this neighborhood like a dumping ground for developments no one else wants.

This petition demands that the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission deny the zoning request for this data center. It also calls on Mayor Joe Hogsett and Councilor Ron Gibson to halt the project until a truly community-led planning process can be held—one where residents get a real seat at the table.

Martindale-Brightwood deserves more than vague promises and outside developers. It deserves investment that reflects its people’s hopes—not just corporate interests.

Sign now to say: No data center without community consent. No zoning approval without respect.