Indianapolis officials are considering a $113 million tax incentive package for a data center campus near Irvington proposed by Georgia-based developer DC Blox.
DC Blox plans to build at the Thunderbird Commerce Center, an industrial park on a brownfield near South Kitley Avenue and the Pennsy Trail that was once home to a Ford plant. Because the site sits in a tax increment financing district, any abatements would need approval from both the City-County Council and the Metropolitan Development Commission.
Indianapolis Economic Development Inc. crafted the package, which was introduced at the City-County Council meeting on Nov. 2 and outlined at a virtual meeting on Nov. 4. The organization estimates DC Blox would pay nearly $28 million in taxes during a 10-year abatement period, while future tenants are expected to save $92.5 million.
City rules require companies receiving abatements to return at least 5 percent of the savings to the community. Indy Economic Development said the DC Blox inclusion payment would be about $28.5 million, including about $5.7 million toward redevelopment of Washington Square Mall and $2.5 million for a workforce development program, with the rest for east-side infrastructure. A separate $1.5 million is proposed under the company's Good Neighbor Standards.
The package will be presented to the council's Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. It is expected to be introduced to the Metropolitan Development Commission at 1 p.m. on Nov. 18, with a public hearing and vote at a later date.
