Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Data Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Forest Park leaders describe planned Gillum Logistics data center, cite jobs and tax revenue
Summary
City officials described a proposed Digital Realty data center at the Gillum Logistics Center, saying the Urban Redevelopment Agency closed a nearly $14 million property deal and officials estimate the project’s economic impact could exceed $1 billion; city manager said the facility will use recycled water and is set back from residences.
City Manager Clark described a planned data center at the Gillum Logistics Center and said the city’s Urban Redevelopment Agency closed a nearly $14 million property deal for the site.
The project, Clark said, would be built by Digital Realty and is expected to bring more than $1 billion in overall economic activity. “It uses recyclable water. So once they fill it up, it's not going to take away from the pressures of the residents,” City Manager Clark said. He added that “there is no residential property within, I think you said, a 100 feet of where this data center would be.”
City Manager Clark and Economic Development staff told attendees the city held a town hall to explain the development’s technology and operations to residents concerned about noise, water use and other impacts. Clark said the data center’s cooling systems will be modern and comparable in noise to “the noise that comes off of a local fast food eatery.”
Why it matters: City officials framed the Gillum Logistics Center deal as a major economic development win for Forest Park that could expand the tax base through franchise fees, occupational taxes and other revenues. Clark estimated franchise fees the city receives from Georgia Power could total “close to $2,000,000 a year,” and said occupational taxes would add revenue, though he did not provide a detailed breakdown of projected jobs or timing.
Details officials gave - The Urban Redevelopment Agency (URA) closed a property deal described by City Manager Clark as “nearly $14,000,000.” - The planned data center developer identified in the meeting was Digital Realty. - Clark said there would be no residential property within about 100 feet of the facility and that the site will use recycled water. - City staff held a public town hall to explain data center technology and address community concerns.
What city officials did not say or that was not specified in the meeting - The transcript does not record a finalized development agreement, a site plan, permits, specific job counts, a construction start date, or a timeline for completion. - Clark said he did not know all end users for the facility.
Context and next steps: Economic development staff and the URA led outreach to explain the difference between older data-center technology and newer facilities that use closed cooling systems and recycled water, staff said. City officials did not provide a recorded vote or formal council action on the project in the Ward 1 meeting; they described outreach, agency negotiations and projected fiscal impacts.
The transcript excerpted for this report includes City Manager Clark’s comments summarizing the URA deal and the town hall discussion.
