Armory

As officials in Missouri and St. Louis try to attract data center proposals from companies, pushback grows in communities where the projects are planned. One expert says the economic benefit isn’t crystal clear.

As pushback grows over a potential data center project in Midtown St. Louis, residents say they worry about the development’s environmental impact and if it would cause their electricity bills to rise.

Concerned St. Louis residents made their thoughts known about a proposed $1.5 billion data center project that developers hope to build on the premises of the shuttered Armory building in Midtown.

Newly revealed documents outline the developer’s pitch to St. Louis to turn the shuttered Armory into a $600 million data center. While its developer says he’ll engage the public, he offered few details on the project itself.

Board of Aldermen President Megan Green says a data center moratorium is not off the table as residents complain of transparency, energy and environmental issues. A hearing on a data center proposal at the now-shuttered Armory building was delayed this week.

Alderman Michael Browning says a data center at Green Street’s vacant Armory building would create a void in Midtown that would offset positive momentum in the area. He called the plan to build a $600 million data center "shortsighted."