An Indianapolis City-County Council committee voted 11-2 on November 9 to recommend denying $113 million in tax breaks for a proposed DC BLOX data center campus near Irvington.

DC BLOX, an Atlanta-based firm, is planning a two-building campus totaling about 320,000 square feet on a vacant former Ford plant site. The company says the project represents about $1.8 billion in investment, and that without the abatement the larger 250,000-square-foot building may not be financially feasible.

Dozens of neighbors spoke against subsidizing the project, raising concerns about noise, air pollution from backup generators and rising electricity demand. Supporters pointed to about $30 million in promised community payments, roughly $28 million in tax revenue during the abatement period, about 600 construction jobs at peak buildout and 21 long-term jobs.

The incentive package covers about $20.5 million in breaks for DC BLOX and about $92.5 million for clients using equipment at the facility. The only committee votes in favor were from Republican Michael-Paul Hart, whose district includes the site, and Democrat Ron Gibson.

The proposal now goes to the full council, which could take it up as early as December 7. The Metropolitan Development Commission is also expected to consider the package November 18, with a final vote at a later date.