Nashville will use 'eminent domain' to block a $700 million data center threatening iconic zoo
Nashville votes to use eminent domain against a data center, stating the land it would seize could cost taxpayers.
The Metro Council in Nashville has voted 27 to 5 to authorize the city to acquire the 23.49-acre site adjacent to the Nashville Zoo using eminent domain, or through negotiation. This follows a heated local debate that has gained national attention, with more than 500,000 people signing a petition against the proposed data center project.
While the vote does not commit the city to purchasing the land, it gives Nashville the option to do so, pending a public need determination by a court. The developer, DC BLOX, has pledged to minimize noise pollution, but the concern is tonal noise that could disturb the zoo's animals. DC BLOX closed on the property for $23 million in July 2026, while the county assessed it at around $37 million.
The council has imposed additional requirements, including an appraisal and a three-week waiting period before condemnation. Two zoning challenges are also pending, which could complicate the situation. Nashville is among the few cities using eminent domain against data center projects, as the norm is for utilities or developers to use condemnation powers for infrastructure.
Data centers have faced moratoriums and restrictions in over 70 communities nationwide and at least 14 states.
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