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Last Update: 10/27/2026 at 5:34 AM EST
Nashville Zoo Data Center Dispute
Coverage from WKRN, 111things, and others
DC BLOX has proposed a data center campus at Grassmere Business Park beside Nashville Zoo, prompting opposition from zoo leaders, residents, and local officials.
The zoo has raised concerns that noise, light, and nearby industrial activity could affect animals, including clouded leopards, while also questioning the project’s demands on power and other resources. DC BLOX has described plans for phased construction, closed-loop cooling, and measures to limit noise and light. The dispute also involves public petitioning and Nashville’s consideration of permitting, land-use, and legal measures related to the site.
Looking Back
85 Day Timeline
Jun 4
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All Articles62 articles
Important
DC BLOX sued Metro Nashville in federal court over zoning restrictions, a permitting moratorium, and eminent-domain efforts affecting a proposed data center beside Nashville Zoo.
8/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Nashville Metro Council voted Tuesday in South Nashville to authorize eminent-domain proceedings for a DC Blox property intended for a data center near the Nashville Zoo.
8/5/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Nashville Metro Council approved a data-center zoning framework and permit moratorium on July 21, 2026, while DC BLOX near the Nashville Zoo faces a vested-rights and zoning-appeal dispute.
7/26/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
On July 21, 2026, Nashville Metro Council imposed a data-center permit freeze near the Nashville Zoo after protests and zoning amendments tied to bills BL2026-1391 and BL2026-1448.
7/25/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Nashville Metro Council approved zoning limits and a through-December construction moratorium after protests over DC Blox data-center plans near the Nashville Zoo.
7/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox acquired land near the Nashville Zoo in Nashville, Tennessee, but pending Metro Council siting rules and permit timing could affect whether construction proceeds.
7/18/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell filed eminent-domain legislation in Nashville, Tennessee, to acquire Grassmere Park as appeals and resident opposition grew against a DC Blox data center near the Nashville Zoo.
7/13/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Metro Nashville, led by Mayor Freddie O'Connell, plans a condemnation filing for a DC Blox 50 MW campus site near the Nashville Zoo, amid opposition and a July 7 Metro Council hearing.
6/29/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox permit filings for a 40 megawatt data center near Nashville Zoo face a zoning appeal and potential Metro Nashville development pause as city data-center zoning rules advance.
6/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Interesting
DC Blox sued Metro Nashville on August 11 in federal court over a moratorium, stricter siting rules, and condemnation efforts affecting a proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo.
8/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DCB Nashville sued Nashville in federal court over a data center permitting moratorium and zoning restrictions near the Nashville Zoo.
8/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC BLOX sued Metro Nashville on August 11 in federal court in Tennessee, challenging a data center permitting moratorium affecting the company's proposed Grassmere Park project.
8/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DCB Nashville sued Metropolitan Nashville in federal court over a July moratorium and zoning restrictions blocking a planned data center near Nashville Zoo.
8/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox sued Metro Nashville in federal court in Nashville on Tuesday, challenging zoning changes and a moratorium that could block its permitted data center project.
8/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Nashville Zoo leaders oppose DC BLOX's planned data center next to the zoo, while Nashville council moves toward moratoriums and eminent-domain legislation.
7/24/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo Board unanimously rejected a DC Blox memorandum of understanding for a smaller adjacent data center after community concerns and local zoning restrictions.
7/23/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Metro Council considers zoning amendments, a potential moratorium, and eminent domain to address DC Blox’s $23 million property purchase near the Nashville Zoo.
7/21/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC Blox completed a $23 million property purchase next to the Nashville Zoo in July 2026 as Metro Council advanced data center zoning and moratorium measures and the zoo filed a zoning appeal.
7/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC Blox completed a $23 million purchase of a Nashville Zoo-adjacent 23-acre site and filed new permits as Metro Council prepares moratorium and zoning votes.
7/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Electric Service records show DC BLOX planning up to 100 MW near the Nashville Zoo, amid proposed zoning rules and a temporary moratorium.
7/14/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Metro Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell filed eminent domain legislation on Grassmere Park near the Nashville Zoo to counter DC Blox data center plans ahead of a July 7 council meeting.
6/30/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell sought eminent domain for a DC Blox site near the Nashville Zoo as Metro Planning Commission advanced moratorium and dense-area limits on data centers.
6/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced eminent domain legislation to stop a DC BLOX data center proposed next to Nashville Zoo following local opposition.
6/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Mayor Freddie O'Connell backed a metro council temporary pause on large data center approvals after DC BLOX permit filings near the Nashville Zoo drew bipartisan opposition.
6/19/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Metro Council authorized Mayor Freddie O'Connell to pursue acquisition, including possible eminent domain, of DC Blox property near Nashville Zoo to block a proposed data center.
8/5/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Nashville Metro Council will vote August 4 on acquiring DC Blox property near Nashville Zoo as permits and broader data-center siting restrictions remain under consideration.
8/2/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox closed on a Nashville Zoo-area property in July to build a 10-megawatt data center as zoning appeals and a Metro Council moratorium vote remain pending.
7/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC BLOX faces bipartisan opposition in Nashville, Tennessee, over a proposed 700 million data center campus near the Nashville Zoo after residents cite low-frequency noise concerns for endangered clouded leopards.
7/10/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Metro Nashville, under Mayor Freddie O'Connell, plans eminent domain legislation for land near the Nashville Zoo as DC Blox proceeds with permits for a data center amid zoning appeals and opposition.
6/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Brad Paisley and Nashville Zoo officials oppose a DC Blox data center near the Nashville Zoo, prompting zoning appeals and proposed moratoriums in Nashville, Tennessee.
6/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville filed eminent domain legislation in Tennessee to acquire 648 Grassmere Park for a DC BLOX data center near the Nashville Zoo after widespread petition opposition.
6/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell plans eminent domain against a DC Blox AI data center near the Nashville Zoo as Davidson County drafts siting limits.
6/29/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox pursued a Nashville Zoo-area data center as Metro Planning Commission approved new data-center rules and Metro Codes reported permits not yet issued.
6/26/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC BLOX faced community opposition in Nashville during Metro Planning Commission review over a proposed 50-megawatt campus next to Nashville Zoo, as officials advanced a 90-day permit moratorium.
6/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo opposed a proposed DC BLOX data center planned near the clouded leopard breeding facility, citing infrasound noise concerns and launching a petition.
7/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC Blox proposed a data center near the Nashville Zoo as Nashville Metro Council advanced regulations and a temporary pause on approvals during a Tuesday meeting.
7/8/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo officials oppose a phased DC BLOX Nashville data-center proposal, citing wildlife impacts and potential grid strain, while the city advances property acquisition legislation.
7/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo and Mayor Freddie O'Connell oppose a DC BLOX 50-megawatt data center outside the zoo perimeter, citing noise, light, habitat, and grid strain concerns.
7/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Brad Paisley and DC Blox faced local siting debates in Nashville as Metro Planning Commission advanced legislation affecting a Nashville Zoo-adjacent 50 MW data center campus.
6/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Metro Planning Commission discussions intensified on DC BLOX’s proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo amid disputes over permits, noise impacts, and wildlife concerns.
6/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Environmental groups notified Nashville officials and DC BLOX about endangered species and Mill Creek stormwater concerns for a proposed zoo-adjacent data center.
6/25/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC BLOX faces growing opposition near the Nashville Zoo while Nashville Metro Council advances a Davidson County temporary moratorium on data center zoning and permitting.
6/21/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC BLOX faced petition-backed opposition and a Davidson County temporary moratorium after permits were filed for a Nashville Zoo-adjacent 69,220 square foot data center.
6/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville held a planning commission hearing in response to proposed legislation restricting large data centers near the Nashville Zoo after DC BLOX drew local opposition.
6/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Metro Planning Commission deferred data-center siting legislation until June 25 after residents opposed a DC Blox facility near the Nashville Zoo.
6/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Community leaders, including Nashville Zoo stakeholders and public figures, oppose a planned data center next to Nashville Zoo in South Nashville as local permitting and moratorium discussions advance in Tennessee.
6/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo CEO Rick Schwartz opposed DC Blox plans for a Grassmere Business Park data center adjacent to zoo property, citing light and noise risks during the city review process.
6/8/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Metro Nashville residents and Nashville Zoo supporters filed a petition against a proposed DC BLOX data center near Nashville Zoo as Metro Council weighs siting and operating restrictions.
6/8/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Grassmere Park resident Drew Small and Davidson County opponents push for public input on a DC Blox Nashville Zoo-area data center before a June 11 Metro Planning Commission hearing.
6/7/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo officials oppose DC Blox plans for a data center in Grassmere Business Park due to potential light and noise effects on zoo animals, ahead of a city decision.
6/6/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo officials oppose a DC Blox data center proposal at Grassmere Park, as Metro Council considers location restrictions for data centers.
6/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo sought public opposition on June 4 to a proposed DC Blox data center at 648 Grassmere Park, citing unknown animal and visitor impacts.
6/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC BLOX proposed a Nashville data center permit next to Nashville Zoo, facing opposition from the zoo and officials over land-use impacts as Tennessee advances HB1847 cost-responsibility rules.
6/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Brad Paisley and Nashville Zoo leaders called for opposition to a DC BLOX data center near the zoo as a zoning appeal and Metro Council action proceed.
6/8/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo officials and council member Courtney Johnston oppose a DC BLOX 69,000-square-foot data center near the zoo, seeking a moratorium vote amid zoning uncertainty.
6/6/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC Blox advanced a 69,000-square-foot data center near the Nashville Zoo as Metro Planning Commission approved Nashville proposals limiting new data center development.
6/26/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Marsha Blackburn urged reconsideration of a proposed DC Blox data center next to Nashville Zoo after petitions and a planning commission meeting drew more than 150 opponents.
6/15/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Additional
Nashville residents and Nashville Zoo leadership opposed a DC BLOX data center near the Nashville Zoo at a Metro Planning Commission hearing, amid a proposed half-mile siting ban.
6/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Brad Paisley joined local opposition to a proposed DC Blox data center next to the Nashville Zoo in South Nashville, with permitting filings submitted in Nashville.
6/7/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nashville Zoo launched a petition on Change.org opposing a proposed DC Blox data center planned for 648 Grassmere Park in South Nashville.
6/4/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Citrus County residents and Nashville Zoo opponents challenged proposed data centers in Florida and Tennessee over noise, animal welfare, and missing environmental studies.
8/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Brad Paisley boosted a Nashville, Tennessee petition opposing a proposed AI data center near Nashville Zoo as the zoo and DC BLOX dispute electricity and water impact claims.
6/13/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General