Digital Realty, a global data center operator with existing facilities across the Atlanta region, is facing organized opposition to a proposed $500 million project at 713 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, where the West End, Adair Park and Mechanicsville neighborhoods meet in southwest Atlanta. About a dozen residents addressed the Atlanta City Council on Aug. 3, raising concerns about job creation, utility strain and community impact tied to the expansion.
Digital Realty has offered $10 million in community investment funds and pledged more than $20 million toward environmental remediation under oversight from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Residents argue the offer does not offset the risks. In April, the Neighborhood Planning Unit for the area voted 105-87 against recommending a zoning change that would allow the facility within a five-minute walk of the West End MARTA station, following a meeting attended by roughly 200 people.
Since 2024, Atlanta City Council policy has barred new data centers near the Beltline and within a half-mile of MARTA stations. Council member Antonio Lewis has proposed an amendment permitting exceptions for facilities capped at 350,000 square feet with at least 10 percent retail space and closed-loop cooling systems. The Zoning Review Board upheld the original restriction in July, and the council is holding the item for further review.
Metro Atlanta ranks among the fastest-growing data center markets in the country, according to Georgia Trend. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce recently launched the Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance to connect business leaders, utilities and community stakeholders around the region's expanding digital infrastructure sector. A separate council proposal from member Kelsea Bond would create a task force to study data center regulation practices nationally.
Source: Rough Draft Atlanta -- https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/08/05/atlanta-residents-protest-digital-realty/