Plans for a data center development at the site of a former Walmart in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have been dropped following significant local opposition.Described as a “computing research facility” by developers and the local Alderman, the proposed development in Midtown would have been part of a proposed redevelopment of the 108,000 sq ft (10,035 sqm) site, attached to a larger indoor self-storage facility.The data center would have been focused on high-performance computing, using a closed-loop glycol cooling system. It would have taken up approximately 19,000 sq ft (1,765 sqm) of the building, with the remaining space taken up by the self-storage facility.The developer has removed the proposed “computing research facility” from its redevelopment application. The revised proposal will still include the self-storage facility, but will now include new housing instead. The development will also include a new Milwaukee Public Library branch.According to Alderman Mark Chambers, Jr., the changes were brought about by significant local opposition to the development of a data center.“As the Alderman representing this community, I have always believed that meaningful public engagement must be more than a checkbox,” said Chambers. “The listening sessions and public testimony provided residents with an opportunity to voice their concerns, ask difficult questions, and share their vision for the future of Midtown. I heard those concerns clearly, and I took them seriously throughout this process.He added: “The decision to remove the computing research facility reflects what can happen when residents engage, local government listens, and all parties remain willing to find common ground. By removing the computing research facility, the focus returns to what matters most to our community: transforming a long-vacant property into a destination that delivers housing, a new Milwaukee Public Library branch, neighborhood-serving amenities, and lasting benefits for residents.”