Nearby residents in Taylor, Texas, are facing a stark choice: the land their ancestors donated for a community park is being converted into a massive data center. This shift represents a significant blow to local families who have watched generations play on the grounds, now threatened by the noise, heat, and power demands of the new facility. For Pamela Griffin and her kin, the situation is not just about zoning; it is a legal battle over the sanctity of a promise made decades ago.
A Promise Made Good, Then Broken
In 1999, a farming family known as Mr Bland fulfilled a pledge to his neighbours by deeding 87 acres to a public trust for the sum of $10. The legal instrument explicitly stipulated that the land must be used as a public park. The donation was born of necessity; as Griffin recalled, the area was historically restricted for Black and brown residents, forcing her family to settle on the outskirts where Mr Bland would occasionally return baseballs to the children playing on his property.
That promise held for two decades. The land changed hands several times between non-profit foundations and municipal entities, but the condition remained attached to the title. In 2025, however, the City of Taylor sold the property to Blueprint, a data centre developer, for $10 million. The intended park is now slated to become a 135,000 square foot facility located just 500 feet from Griffin’s home, sandwiched between a power substation and railroad tracks.
Community Concerns vs. Corporate Reality
When local activists began knocking on doors last year, many residents, including Griffin, admitted they had never even heard of data centres. Upon learning what the facilities entail, the community quickly identified potential hazards regarding air quality, water usage, and electromagnetic noise. Griffin noted that many elderly residents in the working-class neighbourhood could not afford to relocate.
The city’s response has been to highlight the economic benefits. According to the developer’s website, the project will utilise a closed-loop water system and the cost of a new power substation will be covered by the builders to avoid straining the local grid. The city asserts that noise will be contained within the building envelope and further reduced by earthen berms and landscaping.
“Data centres create a significant net financial benefit for cities because they generate a lot of new tax revenue without also increasing demand on city services and infrastructure.”
Daniel Seguin, Taylor’s executive director of community services, clarified that the developer did not require specific city approval to utilise the land for this purpose. He explained that the existing Employment Centre zoning already permits such a use. While the developer has not yet initiated the platting or building permit process, the city maintains that it cannot unilaterally block the project.
The Legal Battle
Griffin and her family decided to fight. They hired a local attorney, Chris Osborne, to challenge the sale based on the original deed. Osborne initially expressed doubt, noting that data centres are difficult to oppose legally compared to other developments like apartment complexes. However, he proceeded to review nearly 30 years of documentation.
The records confirmed Griffin’s memory. On July 7, 1999, Mr Bland’s descendants granted the land to the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation to be held in trust for future park use by Williamson County. The chain of title shows the land was transferred to the City of Taylor in 2003, sold to the Taylor Economic Development Corporation for $15,000 in 2008, and finally sold to Blueprint in 2025.
Despite filing a lawsuit and seeking an injunction to halt construction during the appeals process, the judge dismissed the case. The plaintiffs have since appealed to the Third Court of Appeals in Austin. The core argument remains that the change of use directly impacts a community that relied on the park, and that allowing deeds to be ignored sets a dangerous precedent for property rights.
A Flawed Comparison
The city’s FAQ page attempts to mitigate fears about property values by citing Round Rock, Texas, as an example. The city claims data centres do not decrease nearby residential values. This comparison is widely regarded as disingenuous; Round Rock is a large suburb of Austin with a median home value of half a million dollars, whereas Taylor’s population is significantly smaller and the median home value near the proposed site is approximately $90,000.
Seguin estimates the project will generate $30 million in tax revenue over the next decade, with $20 million going to the school district. He argues that the facilities do not increase traffic or emergency service calls. Yet, for the families living nearby, the trade-off is clear: a promised park is being sacrificed for a high-tech industrial complex that sits just yards away.
Key takeaways
- A family’s 1999 donation of 87 acres for a public park is currently being repurposed as a $10 million data centre in Taylor, Texas.
- Legal challenges to halt construction have been dismissed at the trial level, though the case is now under appeal regarding the validity of the original deed restrictions.
- Residents face concerns over noise, air quality, and property values, while the city points to projected tax revenue and a comparison to wealthier suburbs.
- The dispute highlights a broader tension between municipal economic incentives and the enforcement of historical land-use promises in Texas.
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