INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The public will have the chance to weigh in on a proposed data center in the historic Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood on Thursday.  California-based data center developer Metrobloks has asked to rezone a largely vacant, roughly 14-acre property at 2505 N. Sherman D r., the site of the former Sherman Drive-In theater, for a $500 million data center.  The Metropolitan Development Commission Hearing Examiner will hold a public hearing at 1 p.m. on Thursday in the Public Assembly Room at the Indianapolis City-County Council Building, which is located at 200 E. Washington St. Metrobloks claims the data center is designed to be “low-impact,” use relatively little water, and the company will cover electricity costs without relying on resident subsidies, but it’s already faced opposition from some groups concerned about the environmental impact, noise, and proximity to residential streets. Recent plans for a Google data center on the southeast side of Indianapolis were withdrawn in the face of public opposition. Democrat Ron Gibson, who represents the area of the city on the Indianapolis City-County Council, has publicly supported the project as a means to develop vacant, blighted property and add millions to the local tax base. Department of Metropolitan Development staff has recommended the project’s rezoning requests and variances be approved. Written comments can be submitted ahead of the hearing by emailing [email protected] Rendering of the proposed Metrobloks data center at 2505 N. Sherman Dr. in Indianapolis (Provided Photo/Metrobloks) Previous coverage Vacant drive-in theater site in Indianapolis may host new data center Dozens rally against data center plans for former Indianapolis drive-in Developer talks with neighbors about data center at former Sherman Drive-in Some residents oppose $500 million data center at vacant drive-in site ...read more read less