Land donated for a park for $10 30 years ago, sold for $10 million to build a data center; US city's Community services head says he doesn't need approval from any resident because…
A Texas city is facing a legal challenge and public criticism following its decision to dispose of land intended to be used for the creation of a public park by selling the same to create a data center facility. The 87-acre land in question was donated to the city more than 30 years ago for $10, on the condition that it would be utilised as a park. However, in 2025, the city sold the same land for $10 million to a data centre construction company.
According to a report by 404 Media, the land was donated by the Bland family in 1999 to the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation , with the deed stating it was to be held in trust for future use as parkland by Williamson County. Over the following years, ownership changed hands several times before the Taylor Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) sold the property to Blueprint, a data center developer, for $10 million. The site is now planned to house a 135,000-square-foot data center.
Why are city officials saying that the project does not need approvalResidents opposing the project questioned why city officials did not stop the development. However, Daniel Seguin, Taylor's executive director of community services, said Blueprint did not require additional city approval because the site's existing zoning already permits data centers.
“Blueprint Projects did not require City approval to use the property as a data center because the property’s existing Employment Center zoning already allowed such use,” Seguin told 404 Media.
He added, “The City of Taylor’s Land Development Code primarily regulates form, not function. The only approvals that our code requires are for the general layout of the buildings, landscaping, impervious cover, etc. The developer has not advanced the project with the City beyond the Employment Center Plan. To break ground, the developer would still have to secure the City’s approval for platting and building permits. This process has not yet been initiated.”
The city's website also states that it cannot simply reject data center projects. According to its FAQ section, "Can the City just say no to data centers? In short, no."
Residents file appeal against data centre citing original deedPamela Griffin, whose family has lived near the property for generations, said local activists uncovered the original 1999 deed after she recalled that the farmer had promised her father the land would become a park for local children.
According to court records and property documents, the deed required the land to be used as parkland. Griffin and several family members hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit challenging the development.
Griffin said, “We gotta get this park back for this community that should have been built a long time ago.”
The lawsuit was dismissed by a trial court, and a request to stop construction while the appeal proceeds was also denied. Griffin's lawyer later told her, “Pam, if you’d been fighting an apartment complex or anything else […] you would have won that case.” The plaintiffs have appealed the ruling.
Residents have also raised concerns about possible impacts on noise, electricity, water use and nearby property values. Griffin said, “We can’t afford it. I got a lot of old people in our community that can’t afford to move.”
The city says the project includes measures such as noise barriers and a closed-loop cooling system to reduce its impact. Officials also estimate the facility will generate about $30 million in tax revenue over the next decade, including roughly $20 million for the local school district.
According to a report by 404 Media, the land was donated by the Bland family in 1999 to the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation , with the deed stating it was to be held in trust for future use as parkland by Williamson County. Over the following years, ownership changed hands several times before the Taylor Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) sold the property to Blueprint, a data center developer, for $10 million. The site is now planned to house a 135,000-square-foot data center.
Why are city officials saying that the project does not need approvalResidents opposing the project questioned why city officials did not stop the development. However, Daniel Seguin, Taylor's executive director of community services, said Blueprint did not require additional city approval because the site's existing zoning already permits data centers.
“Blueprint Projects did not require City approval to use the property as a data center because the property’s existing Employment Center zoning already allowed such use,” Seguin told 404 Media.
He added, “The City of Taylor’s Land Development Code primarily regulates form, not function. The only approvals that our code requires are for the general layout of the buildings, landscaping, impervious cover, etc. The developer has not advanced the project with the City beyond the Employment Center Plan. To break ground, the developer would still have to secure the City’s approval for platting and building permits. This process has not yet been initiated.”
The city's website also states that it cannot simply reject data center projects. According to its FAQ section, "Can the City just say no to data centers? In short, no."
Residents file appeal against data centre citing original deedPamela Griffin, whose family has lived near the property for generations, said local activists uncovered the original 1999 deed after she recalled that the farmer had promised her father the land would become a park for local children.
According to court records and property documents, the deed required the land to be used as parkland. Griffin and several family members hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit challenging the development.
Griffin said, “We gotta get this park back for this community that should have been built a long time ago.”
The lawsuit was dismissed by a trial court, and a request to stop construction while the appeal proceeds was also denied. Griffin's lawyer later told her, “Pam, if you’d been fighting an apartment complex or anything else […] you would have won that case.” The plaintiffs have appealed the ruling.
Residents have also raised concerns about possible impacts on noise, electricity, water use and nearby property values. Griffin said, “We can’t afford it. I got a lot of old people in our community that can’t afford to move.”
The city says the project includes measures such as noise barriers and a closed-loop cooling system to reduce its impact. Officials also estimate the facility will generate about $30 million in tax revenue over the next decade, including roughly $20 million for the local school district.
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