Charlotte Secures $160 Million Data Center Deal Manufacturing Growth in Tech Sector

Charlotte Welcomes a Major Data Center Deal

Hey there, Charlotte! Big news is buzzing in the Queen City as Digital Realty Trust Inc. has just made a significant land purchase that’s turning heads. The company, which is a heavyweight in the data center game, has snagged about 155 acres of land near the beautiful Catawba River at 12899 Moores Chapel Road for a whopping $160 million! This exciting development just happened late last week, and it’s got the local business community all abuzz.

What’s Going On?

According to records from Mecklenburg County, the land was sold by The Keith Corporation, a prominent Charlotte developer. They previously initiated a rezoning petition back in 2020 to allow for a significant industrial project on this site—clearly a smart move, as it has now attracted a big player like Digital Realty!

Although Digital Realty hasn’t gone into specifics about what they plan to do with the newly acquired site, they do have an impressive track record. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, this company operates over 300 data centers across more than 55 metro areas worldwide. In fact, they already have a data center located in uptown Charlotte at 113 N. Myers St., which spans 29,200 square feet across three stories!

Charlotte’s Data Center Boom

This recent purchase aligns with a growing trend of data center investments popping up in North Carolina and particularly in the Charlotte region. Just to give you an idea, PowerHouse Data Centers and Town Lane recently made headlines for their own big acquisition—122 acres off University City Boulevard for $45.5 million! Their ambitious plans include constructing a whopping 2.5 million-square-foot data center campus!

And it doesn’t stop there. Microsoft Corp. is also getting in on the action with the construction of three new data centers in Catawba County, part of a massive $1 billion investment they announced back in 2022. Alongside that, it was reported that Microsoft acquired a 1,350-acre megasite in Person County, likely set to become another data center.

Why Data Centers Matter

But why the sudden surge in data centers, you ask? Well, as technology continues to evolve, there’s more demand for data storage, processing, and management. With companies relying on cloud computing and big data, data centers are becoming the backbone of our online world. They house servers that support everything from social media to e-commerce, making them indispensable.

What’s Next for Charlotte?

While we wait for the official plans from Digital Realty for their new space, one thing is clear: Charlotte is carving out a name for itself as a hub for the tech industry, especially when it comes to data centers. With more companies investing in our area, it might not just bring jobs but also boost the local economy significantly.

So, buckle up, Charlotte! The future looks bright, and who knows what exciting developments are on the horizon. As the Queen City embraces this new chapter, we’ll be sure to keep an eye on all the action. Stay tuned, because more news about this data center boom is certainly on the way!