DC BLOX is suing Metro Nashville over its decision to stop the company’s planned data center near the Nashville Zoo.
According to the lawsuit obtained by WSMV, the company had already applied for permits and secured development rights under Tennessee law. DC BLOX says it bought the Grassmere Park property in July for about $23 million, saying the site had previously been used as an Asurion data center and was already zoned for the project.
DC BLOX states in the lawsuit that Metro’s zoning administrator determined the project was allowed and later confirmed the company’s permit applications had “vested,” meaning they should be reviewed under the rules that existed when they were submitted. The company claims Metro later passed new data center rules and a temporary moratorium on data center permits, then put its applications on hold instead of continuing the review process.
The lawsuit also alleges Metro singled out the Grassmere project. It points to public opposition from Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Councilmember Courtney Johnston, who sponsored the moratorium, and claims another Nashville data center project continued moving through the permitting process while DC BLOX’s project was delayed.
DC BLOX argues Metro violated its constitutional rights and Tennessee’s vested property rights laws by stopping the project. The company is asking the court to order Metro to resume processing its permits, block enforcement of the moratorium against its project and award damages.
The lawsuit contains allegations made by DC BLOX. Metro Nashville has not yet filed a response.
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