The Michigan City Common Council approved four resolutions related to Project Maize, moving the $800 million data center project into the next phase.
The resolutions passed after four hours of presentations and discussions. The conversations were rooted in months of negotiations, community input, research, data center field trips and public presentations.
“I applaud the Council for their due diligence in listening, learning and weighing the facts about data centers in the midst of strong debate,” Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch said in a press release. “I am excited to see this long-vacant Brownfield site transformed into a project with the potential to be truly transformational for our city’s future.”
Project Maize will take over the vacant building at 402 Royal Road, which formerly housed the Federal Mogul Corp. The site, owned by Phoenix Investors since 2022, has been empty for over 15 years. The property, zoned M-1 Industrial, will be repurposed to reuse the existing structure along with sewer segregation and a planned partnership with NIPSCO to upgrade the adjacent substation.
“We see Project Maize as a beacon of innovative redevelopment that is approached with a sustainable mindset,” Clarence Hulse, EDCMC executive director, said. “While the proposal has prompted controversy and concerns, we believe the project is transformational, shining a light on our city as a hub for digital infrastructure.”
The Project Maize proposal centers on commitments to maintaining noise, radiation and electromagnetic field levels in compliance with federal, state and local standards and ordinances. The project is expected to spur hundreds of construction jobs and 30 full-time permanent positions once the data center is up and running.
“Technology-based developments will attract new companies in the industry and signal how our city is willing to take on impactful projects that are pushing the concepts of traditional redevelopment and have the power to be truly transformative,” Hulse said.
