LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Western Hospitality Partners (WHP) announced Monday a significant change to its planned hyperscale data center development in Oldham County, opting for a smaller project on a new site after facing community opposition.
Originally proposed as a $6 billion “Project Lincoln” on Kentucky Highway 53, the project sparked controversy over concerns about environmental impacts, traffic, noise, and zoning. Public outcry led local officials to consider a moratorium on data center applications while new regulations are developed.
In response to these concerns, WHP now plans to build two data center buildings at 3210 DW Griffith Lane, on property currently occupied by the Sauerbeck family drive-in theater. Oldham County Judge-Executive David Voegele confirmed the drive-in is expected to relocate to accommodate the project.
“The change was made after hearing the community’s concerns about the Highway 53 site and working closely with numerous leaders within the community,” WHP representative Abie Kassin said in a press release, highlighting the project’s potential “lasting benefits” to the county.
Judge-Executive Voegele described the new site as an “appropriate location,” noting that it is zoned for industrial use and was recommended by neighbors near the original site. WHP has applied for a conditional use permit for the new property and will follow the county’s planning process. Because the Sauerbeck site is zoned industrial, the application would not be subject to the moratorium on data center permits, which has yet to be officially approved.
Local opposition to the original Ky. 53 location remains cautious but somewhat relieved. “Our group is going to be extremely excited that they’re off of (Ky.) 53 because that was highly inappropriate,” said vocal opponent Don Erler. “But at the same time, we’re going to continue to push for proper regulations for these kinds of developments.”
The original site consisted of 267 acres zoned for agriculture and conservation, with WHP seeking to define the data center as a “private utility” to gain approval. The company has not released details about the size or cost of the new project at the drive-in site.
Data centers are critical infrastructure for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and other technology services. Companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta have invested heavily in similar facilities across the region. Meta is currently building a large data center in nearby Jeffersonville, Ind., while Louisville-based Poe Companies is developing a project near Shively in partnership with PowerHouse Data Centers of Virginia.
As Oldham County continues to balance economic development with community concerns, WHP’s site shift may offer a compromise, but debate over data center regulation remains ongoing.
