Data center builders are outbidding home builders for land, prompting concerns about competition with housing.
An analysis from the National Association of Home Builders reveals that data center builders are outbidding home builders for land — in some cases, by amounts "nowhere close" to median land prices in the area.
In one case, a developer offered home owners in Virginia about $4.4 million per acre for their land in an area where median land prices range closer to $100,000 per acre. According to spokespeople for the home builders' industry, "Local governments are no longer just deciding where to put data centers. They are deciding whether residential development can compete for land and grid capacity at all."
The article adds, "NAHB is not aware of any reported litigation in which a home builder has directly sued a data center operator or developer over land competition. The fight, at least so far, is being led by neighbors, not builders."
FULL STORY: AI Data Centers Are Outbidding Home Builders for America's Land
Texas bars data centers from raising utility costs for residents
Gov. Abbott is calling on the state's utility regulator to take steps to reduce energy costs for consumers and ensure data center operators pay for any added costs.
Virginia officials end support for proposed data center next to Civil War battlefield
The proposal for a 2,100-acre site in Prince William County has been in dispute for years.
Voters in Wisconsin city pass nation's first data center referendum
The measure requires voter approval for tax incentives to new data centers.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association