Did they say how much power the data centers would consume?
No, it's still very "hush-hush". More and more data centers will be popping up in the Midwest as coastal markets get strained for land and power. I am not opposed to this development as this is technically in a flood-plain, but I am sure there will be some cases where we really need to look at what the highest and best use case for a site is before approving. Otherwise, we end up with the endless data center sprawl like Northern Virginia.
I’m surprised nobody’s connected the dots yet that STL city is a perfect place for data centers. If I were Zuck I would offer the City $3billion for its water division and offer free water in perpetuity as long as FB gets to use the 60% excess capacity for its data centers
I’m surprised nobody’s connected the dots yet that STL city is a perfect place for data centers. If I were Zuck I would offer the City $3billion for its water division and offer free water in perpetuity as long as FB gets to use the 60% excess capacity for its data centers
I agree that the City has plenty of sites that would be perfect for data centers, but I certainly wouldn't let Zuck (or any private business) have control of our water supply.
This is not dead. The PR statement from the developer was specifically they are pulling the permit application so they can rework it and resubmit. This is common if there are issues raised during the zoning process or needing to change for council approval. The project will be back
Massively in favor of data centers popping up in the exurbs and Metro East that DO NOT run on diesel generators. Initially, I wasn't a fan of folk in the Chuck getting rid of the Cumulus development. However, after reading that it'd be a diesel-powered data center, I get why they did what they did. If their actions prevent St. Charles from becoming what Memphis has become following the xAI/Grok data centers, then it's a good move. Keeping my fingers crossed for modular nuclear...
If one should come to STL City, it better be fueled off the grid (the big transformers next to the Armory) and from supplemental power at the site (e.g., solar & wind). Still believe data centers are best sourced from exurb greenfields proximate to major power transfer stations.
^ To your point Gone Corporate. St. Louis city has the power infrastructure, the fiber infrastructure, the land and industrial space for data centers and they constitute some of the biggest industrial investments made in this country right now. Yes, not a spanking new office full of white collar workers but that is pipe dream in the world of AI. But jobs none the less and a lot of well paying construction jobs and investment to get them built.
Of course, a shame what MO Senator did to convince Trump admin to kill the Grain Belt Express govt loan which would have brought a cheap abundant wind energy to MO from KS. Hopefully MO ratepayers don't get stuck with overpriced nuke plant that won't deliver for another decade.
So what have I learned from the posts, city shouldn't seek the industrial investments data centers and jobs would bring and what do I loathe, MO politics did a great job of denying the cheap abundant energy need to drive them. Pun intended in those words to be clear. In the meantime, will continue to come to urbanstl to see all these neat renderings of massive urban mixed use developments that pop up now and then. Oldie but goodie renderings were the Bottle Works towers.
Bernie Sanders commented on the St. Charles data center. It's funny, because you see one of the many contradictions of the far-right. You saw the local insane fascists in strong opposition to this data center, for obvious reasons, but now on here, you see the national insane fascists who blindly support data centers because that's what they were told to suppory by dear leader. And I'm sure lots of bots mixed in.
There is a happy middle, of course, but you won't find that with the far-right.
I can’t see any advantage for wanting data centers to be built in the city. At the very least not at the Armory or in the hottest neighborhood in the City, DT West.
That data center being built at 2300 locust, in a beautiful 6 story building, is advertising 9 permanent jobs. It will end up being less than that and eventually 0 jobs with automation.
I can’t believe people on this forum support these.
I can’t see any advantage for wanting data centers to be built in the city. At the very least not at the Armory or in the hottest neighborhood in the City, DT West.
That data center being built at 2300 locust, in a beautiful 6 story building, is advertising 9 permanent jobs. It will end up being less than that and eventually 0 jobs with automation.
I can’t believe people on this forum support these.
^ Well, obviously. I might be the last man standing in support of data centers in the city. I will continue to make my case. Essentially on two fronts
..
First, from my point of view you will never have a thriving changing built environment over the ages by limiting the structures to only certain uses or re-imagined as only one use but not another. Heck, I can imagine 909 Chestnut tower being home to a world class AI company combined with the tallest & most sophisticated data center in the world. Maybe take off the glazing to keep create open air space, add greenery on upper floors, and build a system to recirculate cooling water by taking advantage of its vertical structure (who knows maybe an indoor vertical rainforest with servers in the inner core).
Heck, why can't a new hotel/residential tower be built along Grand and next to Armory, the Armory re open as the destination it was recently and a former goodwill warehouse next to the Armory be a fricking data center for which the said warehouse is literally next to a full blown power substation? Why does the vision have to be some neat little mixed use project pulled straight out of burbs and plopped next to the Armory? My vision is hotel/resident next to entertainment next to the nitty gritty of an industrial city & all its infrastructure that serves the future.
Secondly, Digital world has been here, AI is now here. Data centers is the infrastructure is what drives it and the business behind it. So the other basis of my argument to this blog is if you can't embrace the future that is happening literally in front of our eyes with the built environment you have or make room somehow for a different built environment within the city then you might as well accept empty spaces and lots because St. Louis will continue to be left out of business that is happening now and driving the near future.
I'm with dredger on this. The City has so much vacant land, there's no reason some of it can't be used for data centers (which are, after all, critical infrastructure for the immediate future).
I'm with dredger on this. The City has so much vacant land, there's no reason some of it can't be used for data centers (which are, after all, critical infrastructure for the immediate future).
Yes, but this is obviously a unique opportunity. Flat and clean land immediately adjacent to second or third largest node of public transportation in the region. The Foundry and "Prospect Yards" are finally radiating some development heat. The Armory is still a huge asset that is saved. The Brickline Greenway will connect them all. Riverfront industrial, go for it! Not here.
