{"id":30771,"date":"2026-04-21T16:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T21:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/?page_id=30771"},"modified":"2026-04-21T17:06:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T22:06:50","slug":"st-louis-board-approves-3-billion-armory-district-data-center-project","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/st-louis-board-approves-3-billion-armory-district-data-center-project\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Louis Board Approves $3 Billion Armory District Data Center Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Louis Board Approves $3 Billion Armory District Data Center Project<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

GranitecityGossip.com April 21, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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The City of St. Louis took a major step forward Tuesday as the Board of Public Service unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a 120\u2011megawatt data center<\/strong> planned next to the historic Armory building, a project now estimated at $3 billion<\/strong> and envisioned as the centerpiece of a new \u201cArmory Innovation District.\u201d

The vote comes after weeks of review, revisions, and public scrutiny. In March, residents packed a five\u2011hour hearing to voice concerns about environmental impacts, noise, water use, and the overall scale of the development. Local unions, however, strongly supported the project.

City officials said the permit includes newly strengthened conditions<\/strong> addressing:
Water consumption and cooling systems<\/strong>
Air quality and emissions<\/strong>
Lighting and noise limits<\/strong>
Energy usage and reporting requirements<\/strong>
Long\u2011term oversight and compliance<\/strong>

Developers will be required to submit annual reports<\/strong> detailing energy and water use, as well as light and sound levels, a first for a St. Louis data center project.

The data center will be built at the former Macy\u2019s\/Famous\u2011Barr warehouse west of the Armory, while the Armory itself will be redeveloped into 214,500 square feet of Class A office space<\/strong> aimed at tech tenants. The project team includes Contour, TeraWatt, THO Investments, Steadfast City, ARCO, and Lewis Rice.

The approval comes just weeks after Mayor Cara Spencer asked the board to delay the vote for additional due diligence amid rising public opposition to data center development within the city. Despite that request, the board moved forward and approved the permit unanimously. Protesters holding signs attended the meeting, though board members participated via Zoom.

The Armory project has evolved dramatically over the past year. An earlier $600 million proposal faced intense backlash, prompting developers to rework the plan, expand the investment, and incorporate community feedback, particularly around environmental impact and sustainability. The updated design emphasizes high\u2011efficiency equipment, reduced water usage, and LEED\u2011aligned standards<\/strong>.

With today\u2019s approval, the Armory Innovation District clears its most significant regulatory hurdle yet, though public debate over data center development in St. Louis is expected to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n

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