Praetorian Fund is planning to acquire a 4,000-acre industrial site in Chesapeake, Virginia, with the potential for data center development. However, no specific data center project or customer has been disclosed by either the developer or the city as of now.
The Coastal Virginia Commerce Park, where the site is located, has existing development guidelines that allow for data centers, as noted by Stephen Wright, Chesapeake’s economic development director. For several years, the city has been evaluating the infrastructure needs for potential industrial users, especially concerning power supply.
Despite this, Chesapeake’s Vice Mayor, S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter, indicated that city officials have not been briefed on any specific project by Praetorian, nor discussions have taken place regarding electricity requirements with Dominion Energy for serving this site.
The property has been designated for industrial development, including advanced manufacturing, and is included in the existing guidelines provided to companies interested in the site. Due to concerns about utility needs for large developments, the city is currently working on tightening its zoning regulations for data centers.
These ongoing revisions highlight the various requirements that prospective projects must meet, particularly in terms of utility infrastructure. The city is also encouraging sustainable practices such as closed-loop cooling systems for data centers, which might affect any future developments significantly.
Chesapeake had previously explored acquiring the Coastal Virginia Commerce Park to enhance its development potential. However, this plan was abandoned due to financial constraints, thus the current effort represents a continuation of the city’s long-term interest in transforming the property into a key industrial area.
The site, positioned along US Route 17 near the North Carolina border, could accommodate multiple industrial projects, not just a single data center. The city’s preparation for such industrial uses includes assessments of essential infrastructures, such as water and wastewater facilities.
However, opposition remains against the development of the megasite, primarily from groups like Save the Dismal, which voiced concerns regarding industrial activities in the area. They note that while data centers weren’t an initial focus of opposition, their emergence has raised new anxieties.
Although Praetorian has yet to announce specific plans or tenants, the existing entitlements for the land under current development guidelines do indicate that it remains a feasible option for data center development in the future. But for now, no definitive project has been confirmed.
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