Caledonia, Kent County, MI
Microsoft Gaines Township data center
- Rumored
- Proposed
- Approved
- Under construction
- Operating
Microsoft proposes a data center campus near Patterson Avenue SE and 76th Street SE in Gaines Township, south of Grand Rapids, on land that includes about 316 acres bought from Steelcase in 2024. It is seeking to rezone additional parcels, about 104 acres across five parcels by April 2026, to light industrial. After a third public hearing on April 15, 2026, the township Planning Commission tabled the decision.
Key facts
Size & schedule
| Site size | 316 acres [3] already-zoned land bought in 2024 for $45.3 million; about 104 more acres proposed for rezoning |
|---|
Power
| Utility | Consumers Energy [5] |
|---|
Water
| Water source | Byron-Gaines Water System (municipal); Microsoft says it will not withdraw groundwater [5] |
|---|
Money & incentives
| Tax incentives | Microsoft says it will not seek local property tax abatements [5] |
|---|
Local decisions & site
| Parcel / address | 7147 Patterson Avenue; 6900 East Paris Avenue; 4233, 4367 and 4645 76th Street [7]Source excerpt“7147 Patterson Avenue, Conditional Rezone from Steelcase PUD-LSP to Light Industrial • 6900 East Paris Avenue, Rezoning from Steelcase PUD-LSP to Light Industrial • 4233 76th Street, 4367 76th Street, and 4645 76th Street, Rezoning from Agricultural/Rural Residential to Light Industrial” |
|---|
Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.
Timeline
Microsoft buys about 316 acres in Gaines Township (confirmed October 2024) [1]
Microsoft buys a 40.5-acre parcel at 7147 Patterson Ave. SE for $9.7 million [3]
Planning Commission meeting on rezoning adjourned after overflow crowd [2]
Third public hearing on rezoning of about 104 acres; Planning Commission tables decision [4]
Issues raised
- Hundreds of residents attended hearings, many opposed; some requested a moratorium [4]
- Residents questioned vague 'fair share' electricity cost language and enforceability of commitments [4]
- Microsoft offered a 65 dBA noise cap at residential property lines, 150-foot setbacks and an 8-foot berm [4][5]
Sources
- Microsoft confirms major land purchase in Kent Co. for possible data centerFOX 17 · Oct 21, 2024 · news
- Microsoft plans data center campuses in Dorr and Lowell Townships, MichiganDatacenterDynamics · Jan 8, 2026 · news
- Microsoft asks Gaines Township to delay vote on data center rezoningCrain's Grand Rapids Business · 2026 · news
- Microsoft data center decision on hold after hours-long public hearing in Gaines TownshipWWMT · Apr 16, 2026 · news
- Gaines Township proposed data center: What to know before the April 15 public hearingWWMT · Apr 9, 2026 · news
- Consumers Energy on Microsoft AI data center in Gaines Township ahead of public hearingWWMT · Apr 14, 2026 · news
- Minutes of the Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission, April 15, 2026Gaines Charter Township · Apr 15, 2026 · government