Data Center Census

Nashville, Davidson County, TN

DC BLOX Nashville Data Center

Also known as Nashville Zoo data center, Grassmere Park data center

ProposedBlocked by Metro moratorium through 2026-12-01; Metro authorized eminent domain; DC BLOX suing in federal court
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating

DC BLOX, based in Atlanta, plans a data center at 648 Grassmere Park, a 23-acre office park next to the Nashville Zoo that was previously used as a data center by tenant Asurion. The company cut its plan from two buildings (50 MW total) to one 69,200 sq ft, 10 MW building. In July 2026 Metro Council adopted data center rules and a moratorium on permits, and in August it authorized acquiring the property by eminent domain. DC BLOX says it remains committed to the site and sued Metro in federal court.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Planned capacity10 MW [3]
current single-building plan; earlier two-building plan was 50 MW; Inc. reports expansion potential to 100 MW by 2034
Site size23 acres [5]
over 23 acres
Floor area69,200 sq ft [3]
single-story; earlier plan added a second building (202,000 sq ft per WSMV, 261,000 sq ft per NewsChannel 5)
Buildings1 [3]
reduced from 2
Stated investment$380 million [3]
reduced from $1.9 billion for the two-building plan

Water

Coolingclosed-loop water recirculation (per DC BLOX) [8]

Local decisions & site

ZoningIWD (Industrial Warehousing/Distribution) [11]
as stated in DC BLOX's complaint, before the 2026 data center zoning changes
Source excerpt
“The subject property is and was zoned IWD (Industrial Warehousing/Distribution) at all times material before the 2026 data-center zoning changes.”
Parcel / address648 and 650 Grassmere Park Drive, Nashville (Parcel Number 13300013500), approximately 23.49 acres [11]
Source excerpt
“The Property consists of approximately 23.49 acres at 648 and 650 Grassmere Park Drive in Nashville (Parcel Number 13300013500).”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Lawsuits

DCB Nashville, LLC v. The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, No. 3:26-cv-01143pending [11]
The DC BLOX entity alleges Metro's data center moratorium and related ordinances violate due process, equal protection and vested property rights and constitute a regulatory taking, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief and damages.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee · filed Aug 11, 2026
Source excerpt
“DCB NASHVILLE, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Plaintiff, v. THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, Defendant.”

Timeline

  1. Permit documents show two buildings (10 MW and 40 MW) plus generator yards and substation [1]

  2. DC BLOX closes on the property for $23 million [7]

  3. Metro Council approves data center regulations and a moratorium on new permits through Dec. 1, 2026 [2]

  4. Nashville Zoo board unanimously rejects DC BLOX's proposed MOU for a smaller facility [4]

  5. Metro Zoning Administrator issues a written determination that DC BLOX's building-permit applications had vested [11]

  6. Metro Council authorizes eminent domain acquisition of the site, 27-5 [5]

  7. DC BLOX sues Metro in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee over the moratorium [10]

Issues raised

  • The zoo and residents say a data center so close to animals, schools, and homes has not been proven safe [4]
  • Neighbors raised noise concerns; DC BLOX commits to 65 dB(A) at the property line [1][8]
  • A petition against the project gathered nearly 600,000 signatures [7]
  • DC BLOX alleges the moratorium targets it in violation of due process and equal protection [6]

Sources

  1. Data center proposal near Nashville Zoo includes second building three times larger than first
    WSMV · Jun 9, 2026 · news
  2. Data center rules, rejected MOU: What you need to know about the Nashville Zoo and a data center project
    NewsChannel 5 · Jul 22, 2026 · news
  3. DC Blox still 'working through the size and scope of the project' near Nashville Zoo
    NewsChannel 5 · Jul 21, 2026 · news
  4. Nashville Zoo rejects DC Blox proposal for smaller data center next to zoo. Here's what we know
    WSMV · Jul 23, 2026 · news
  5. Metro Council approves eminent domain to acquire land near Nashville Zoo from data center company
    NewsChannel 5 · Aug 5, 2026 · news
  6. DC Blox sues Metro over Nashville Zoo-area data center moratorium. Here's what we know
    WSMV · Aug 12, 2026 · news
  7. A Fight Over a Data Center Next to the Nashville Zoo Just Moved to Federal Court
    Inc. · Aug 14, 2026 · news
  8. Nashville Data Center Project
    DC BLOX · 2026 · company
  9. Nashville Zoo data center: What comes next after Metro Council's vote for eminent domain
    WSMV · Aug 5, 2026 · news
  10. DC Blox sues over Metro's data center moratorium
    Axios Nashville · Aug 11, 2026 · news
  11. Complaint, DCB Nashville, LLC v. The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, No. 3:26-cv-01143 (M.D. Tenn.)
    U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (via WKRN) · Aug 11, 2026 · court