The Sunday Post - May 10, 2026: Data Center Moratorium, Washington Square Mall & DC BLOX Questions
- Michael-Paul Hart
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A weekly report from Councilor Michael-Paul Hart — Building the Smartest City in America.
Volume 2, Issue 19
Is There Really a Data Center Moratorium?
At the most recent Full Council meeting, Proposal 158 was introduced as a special resolution
related to data centers.
I want to be very clear about what that means.
A special resolution is non-binding. It does not create law, it does not stop development, and it does not create an actual moratorium on data centers. Special resolutions are normally used to recognize people, businesses, neighborhoods, and community achievements.
In this case, the resolution attempted to urge the Metropolitan Development Commission to stop accepting new data center petitions until data center standards are in place.
My concern is that this type of action can mislead the public. When people see a headline about a “data center moratorium,” many assume the Council has taken binding action. That is not what happened.
If the goal is a true moratorium, there are more direct and transparent ways to pursue that. A general resolution or an ordinance would allow the public to see where each councilor stands through a real Council action.
Residents deserve clarity, not confusion. That is why I spoke up at the meeting, and I wanted to share that explanation again here.
Hammer and Nigel Recap
After each Full Council meeting, I usually join Hammer and Nigel to talk through what happened at the Council and what it means for Indianapolis.
This week, we discussed the data center issue, the OPHS report, and Washington Square Mall. WIBC also followed up with an additional story, and Johnette Cruz provided a helpful recap of the conversation.
I appreciate the opportunity to talk through these issues in plain language. Local government can be complicated, but residents deserve to know what is happening and why it matters.
Listening to Washington Square Mall Businesses
This week, the Schmidt Associates team, along with members of the Far Eastside Community Council, visited Washington Square Mall to meet with business owners and tenants.
The goal was simple: make sure the people currently operating inside the mall are heard and included in the study being developed.
We are getting closer to publishing a draft vision. On Friday, we had a follow-up team call to discuss next steps. So far, we have gathered a lot of important feedback from residents, community members, and business owners.
We also decided to bring in an additional firm to help with market analytics. That will give the final report stronger quantitative data to go along with the community input we have already collected.
Once the data is compiled and draft renderings are ready, we will bring the community back together to review the draft, provide feedback, and help shape final changes. The goal is to publish the report by the end of June.
Visiting a DC BLOX Site in Atlanta
On May 13, I am heading to Atlanta to visit a DC BLOX site similar to the proposed fiber hub/ data center in District 20.
That said, I do have a responsibility to ask serious questions, identify risks, and make sure the community is prepared with clear expectations, commitments, and accountability measures.
Residents have raised concerns about noise, generators, electricity, water usage, and public safety. I plan to take a decibel reader with me so I can get a firsthand understanding of noise levels at the site. I also hope to speak with nearby businesses and community members while I am there.
This will be a quick trip. I leave early in the morning, visit the site, and return the same day. But I believe it is important to see the operation in person, ask direct questions, and report back to the community.
If you have a question you would like me to try to answer while I am there, please send it my way.
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Accountability, Transparency and Local Leadership
See you next week with more updates from the Neighborhood.
We are a 5-minute walk from WS. We saw it being built, enjoyed the close shopping, and watched it dying. There are many to blame over the years. Before decisions are made on the future, I would like to have specifics on what is being considered right now, not generalities. Thank you.