The Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission listened to more than an hour of concerns and comments from residents Thursday concerning data centers, following the commission’s unanimous vote to depart from plans to explore land use for a proposed data center.
Director of Development George Douglas opened the meeting delivering a public statement to review the process and timeline of events that involved the possible date center development.
“On Tuesday Mayor Jon Costas announced the city would cease all efforts to explore a potential data center project and this decision was unanimously supported by the council,” Douglas said.
“This decision has been communicated with Agincourt and they’ve agreed to withdraw and release the option on the land. I would like to state this was never a done deal and the city had never approved the project, because a project had yet to be presented to the Redevelopment Commission or the city.
“Additionally, many of you have questions and concerns that have been expressed by the community and the citizens and were mutually shared by the city as well. This commission had not approved nor endorsed a data center, and all were in favor of starting a process through a request for public offering back in December of last year, with the full knowledge that a data center might be the potential use. The commission unanimously approved an option agreement at the January meeting. To be clear, this was not approval of the project but an affirmation to start a process to determine the feasibility of a potential project with conditions that had to be satisfied in public approvals.”
In his statement address to the Redevelopment Commission and to the public, Douglas explained the non-disclosure agreement connected with the agreement option could be viewed “as confusing” but is a common aspect of such large projects.
Resident Chris Pupillo was one of the opening speakers among the residents who engaged in the public comment segment, which was moved to the start of the meeting’s agenda.
“Whether it was a daycare center or a proposed data center, you the commission had an obligation to engage and inform the public before you started any process,” Pupillo said.
“That property was bought with taxpayer money and ARPA money from a result of the COVID pandemic, money that was intended for the health and well-being of the community. After the land wasn’t going to be used as a sports complex, you should have engaged the community to get ideas for the best possible use of that land.”
Duane Davison said the resulting dialogue and discontent among residents provides an opportunity for city leaders to “regain lost trust.”
“It would be an understatement to say the community’s trust has been undermined with the ill-advised proposed data center,” Davidson said.
“It’s now a chance for this body to do some healing. I think the city should consider a donation of the land of question to the fine folks at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust.”
Jeannine Hornback, owner of Little U Academy daycare center at 751 Eastporte Drive in Valparaiso, spoke at the March 10 Valparaiso City Council meeting and explained she wanted to address her further concerns by voicing her stance to the Valparaiso RDC.
“It’s hard to swallow to know that there’s a board of people in front of me that voted five to zero for a data center project,” Hornback said.
“Shame on you. You should have tabled it and let the community talk about it. You should listen to what the people want. It’s scary to know you five people voted unanimously for this.”
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
