Nashville Zoo Opposes Adjacent Data Center Project

The Nashville Zoo board voted unanimously to reject a memorandum of understanding with Atlanta‑based DC Blox, which sought to construct an initial 69,000‑square‑foot, 10‑megawatt data center on a 23.49‑acre site next to the zoo. The zoo cited concerns that the facility’s vibrations and noise could stress animals, especially the newly bred clouded leopards, and argued the proximity was unsafe for vulnerable species, schools and nearby neighborhoods.

The city’s Metro Council has responded by imposing a temporary moratorium on new data‑center permits and advancing legislation that would allow the mayor’s office to pursue eminent domain to acquire the property. DC Blox bought the site for $23 million, but has not commented on the rejection. Experts note that while data‑center noise is generally low—louder than a library but quieter than a pickleball court—the specific impact on zoo animals remains uncertain, prompting calls for further observation.