A significant development project has gained approval in Forsyth, Georgia, as the city council voted 5-1 to greenlight the construction of a massive 1,600-acre data center. This decision marks a major step forward for the rapidly growing data center market in the region.
The data center, planned to encompass 12 million square feet (1.1 million square meters) at full completion, will be located along Johnsonville Road, Smith Road, and Collier Road, west of Interstate 75. The project is backed by CBRE-owned Trammell Crow Company, in collaboration with local timber firm H&H, which currently owns the land.
According to a Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) application filed last November, the data center is expected to cost approximately $8.4 billion and could take over a decade to complete, with development potentially continuing until 2037. Specific details regarding the facility’s capacity remain sparse at this stage.
While the project promises to bring substantial tax revenue to Forsyth, concerns were raised during the city council meeting. Local residents voiced worries about the environmental impact of the development as well as the perceived speed of the planning process. However, city officials emphasized the project's economic benefits, citing its potential to bolster the local economy.
Forsyth, located about 60 miles south of Atlanta, is part of a region that has seen increased interest in data center developments. Traditionally considered a Tier 2 market, the Atlanta area has experienced a surge in data center proposals due to rising demand. In addition to this project, reports from last November indicated that powered land developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure was exploring a 200-acre campus in nearby Monroe County. Furthermore, in October of the same year, Google purchased a 950-acre land parcel in Monroe County, signaling its interest in expanding its footprint in the area.
As this ambitious project moves forward, it reflects both the opportunities and challenges associated with the growth of data centers in emerging markets. With construction likely to span more than a decade, this data center is set to become a defining development for Forsyth and its surrounding communities.
