🎉 How to celebrate 615 Day

🪧 Nashville Speaks Out Against Data Centers

An “unprecedented” crowd of more than 150 Nashvillians attended last Thursday’s Metro Planning Commission to speak in favor of data center regulations, and against proposed data centers at the Nashville Zoo and Fisk University. Many waited hours outside in the Nashville heat for the chance to speak, and the fire marshal had to turn some folks away due to capacity. [Nashville Banner]

• What was the commission meeting about? The commission is considering Councilmember Rollin Horton’s proposed zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on data center development. If passed, it will be Nashville’s first bill regulating data centers. On today’s podcast, we spoke with Horton about his bill, which would ban some data centers completely, and require zoning restrictions on others. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
• Yes, but: While some community members spoke out against Fisk University’s data center, others were proponents. Timothy Hughes, president of Nashville’s NAACP chapter and chair of community engagement for the Fisk University Alumni Association, argues the data center will help Black students excel as AI becomes more prevalent. [Nashville Scene]
• More context: While cities and counties across Tennessee have proposed temporary bans or increased regulations on data centers, state lawmakers have passed policies to incentivize data centers. Meanwhile, the Nashville Zoo has filed a zoning appeal to overturn the permits held by DC BLOX, the developer seeking to build the data center. [WPLN]
• What happens next? The Metro Planning Commission deferred consideration of the data center bill until June 25 to take public input into account. The public will have another opportunity to speak out about the proposed data center legislation at Metro Council’s July 7 meeting. [Nashville Banner]

🏗️ ‘It’s Going To Be Painful’

Crews have begun burying utilities for the East Bank development, and will soon move to more heavily traveled roads, including Shelby Avenue and Woodland Street. The work will take 3-12 months, and likely lead to traffic delays, though officials hope to schedule work at night to limit those impacts. [NewsChannel 5]

• Winter Storm Fern highlighted the need to bury utilities. Nashville Electric Service has chosen four neighborhoods for its underground power lines pilot program. [WSMV]

🏘️ New Law Addresses Affordable Housing

From 1987 to 2022, Tennessee built more than 70,000 affordable housing units through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. A new state law aims to make using the program more cost-efficient for affordable housing developers, though it will be up to councilmembers to adopt the proposal. In Davidson County, 51% of renters spend more than they can afford on housing each month. [🔐 The Tennessean]

• Listen to our episode about Nashville’s affordable housing crisis. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🗑️ Where To Put All This Trash

State lawmakers and the Solid Waste Task Force are considering changing a Tennessee law that allows local governing bodies to approve or deny landfill proposals. They say too many communities are blocking new or expanded landfills. Meanwhile, the state’s existing landfills are close to max capacity. [Tennessee Lookout]

• We spoke with state Sen. Heidi Campbell about Nashville’s trash crisis, and what she’s trying to do about it. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

📚 Take a Look, It’s in a Book

Two local nonprofits are addressing literacy in Nashville’s Black communities. The Nashville Black Literacy Coalition uses data to map what Black literacy looks like in Nashville, and brings together communities for collaboration. The A to Z Learning Club curates resources of children’s books with Black characters, and hosts programs to encourage students. [Nashville Banner]

• A to Z Learning Club recently opened a Little Free Library at Play All Day. [Instagram]
• Here’s a list of more literacy organizations in Nashville. [📰 City Cast Nashville]