File photo
File photo
The DeKalb City Council approved annexation of property and a road privatization agreement to pave the way for an $800 million data center on the south side.
Ventus Tech recently spent $40 million to buy 505 acres of farmland on the south side at Gurler and Crego roads.
The Council’s unanimous approval is expected to lead to more property tax revenue than is generated by the rest of the city's largest companies combined, the Daily Chronicle reported.
COVID-19 concerns had Ward 1 Alderman Carolyn Morris, Ward 3 Alderman Tracy Smith and City Clerk Lynn Fazekas participating remotely as the Council needed four votes to complete the deal.
"What's proposed is a very dramatic and transformative development which will impact generations," City Manager Bill Nicklas told The MidWeek ahead of the meeting.
Sale of the privately owned farmland and the April 27 votes were additional steps in efforts by the city to entice industry to the ChicagoWest Business Center. Ferrara Candy Co. announced plans to build on the site along Route 23 and south of Gurler Road in January. The company plans to bring 1,000 jobs and substantial tax revenue to DeKalb by 2021.
Ventus plans an $800 million investment that includes construction of a 970,000-square-foot space. The council already OK’d a 20-year, 55% property tax abatement plan. That plan stipulated Ventus must create 50 tech jobs on site with a starting wage of $38.50 an hour, The MidWeek reported.
The city manager said the data center will require significant electricity and water, bringing more revenue to DeKalb.
"When fully energized, this company's monthly kilowatt usage will exceed the top tier of the city's schedule by a lot," Nicklas told The MidWeek.
The data center will need a lot of water to cool its acres of servers.
Nicklas said a secure entrance will be built just south of where Peace and Gurler roads connect. Landscape buffers will provide setback from adjacent properties across from Route 23.
"I'm happy to say that the widening of the road will be to the east so long-standing residential properties on the west side will see no change in their property," Nicklas said.
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