A proposed AI data center in Birmingham’s Oxmoor Valley neighborhood has been at the center of a growing legal battle as nearby homeowners and community groups challenge the project.For weeks, homeowners living near the construction site have said the development is disrupting their daily lives with noise and vibrations during construction. The Greater Birmingham Humane Society has filed a separate lawsuit, raising concerns about how the facility could impact its planned animal campus.A class-action lawsuit filed by Oxmoor Valley residents also seeks to stop construction at the site because of what they call zoning violations. On Tuesday, a judge heard arguments over a preliminary injunction that could temporarily stop construction while the case moves forward.One notable change came in the list of plaintiffs. John Hilley withdrew from the lawsuit, leaving his neighbors, Robert and Gail Sansome, as the only remaining plaintiffs. Their attorney said the decision was made to streamline the case. During testimony, the Sansomes described how construction at the Nebius site has affected the peaceful enjoyment of their home. They said they can no longer enjoy their backyard or patio and can even hear the noise inside their home.To support their claims, the couple played recordings of the sound from various days and times. The hearing was interrupted when a woman in the gallery played a recording of what she said was noise emitted from an operational data center.Lauren Brokaw, who owns a townhome near the Nebius site, said hearing the testimony made her so frustrated that she wanted to show the judge what residents will have to live with after construction.”It’s disgusting and abhorrent, and it pisses me off,” Brokaw said. “They’re infiltrating our community against our will, against our strong protest. And the Birmingham City Council recently just basically put tape over our mouths and tied our hands behind our backs and said we don’t even have the ability to object to these data centers being brought into our communities.”As Brokaw left the courtroom, the judge said she would not allow distractions that would hinder her ability to hear testimony and make a decision in the case. The defense then called Katrina Thomas to the stand. Thomas is the director of Birmingham’s Department of Planning, Engineering and Permitting, and issued the building permit allowing construction to begin at the site.The hearing is scheduled to resume Thursday.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
A proposed AI data center in Birmingham’s Oxmoor Valley neighborhood has been at the center of a growing legal battle as nearby homeowners and community groups challenge the project.
For weeks, homeowners living near the construction site have said the development is disrupting their daily lives with noise and vibrations during construction. The Greater Birmingham Humane Society has filed a separate lawsuit, raising concerns about how the facility could impact its planned animal campus.
A class-action lawsuit filed by Oxmoor Valley residents also seeks to stop construction at the site because of what they call zoning violations.
On Tuesday, a judge heard arguments over a preliminary injunction that could temporarily stop construction while the case moves forward.
One notable change came in the list of plaintiffs. John Hilley withdrew from the lawsuit, leaving his neighbors, Robert and Gail Sansome, as the only remaining plaintiffs. Their attorney said the decision was made to streamline the case.
During testimony, the Sansomes described how construction at the Nebius site has affected the peaceful enjoyment of their home. They said they can no longer enjoy their backyard or patio and can even hear the noise inside their home.
To support their claims, the couple played recordings of the sound from various days and times.
The hearing was interrupted when a woman in the gallery played a recording of what she said was noise emitted from an operational data center.
Lauren Brokaw, who owns a townhome near the Nebius site, said hearing the testimony made her so frustrated that she wanted to show the judge what residents will have to live with after construction.
“It’s disgusting and abhorrent, and it pisses me off,” Brokaw said. “They’re infiltrating our community against our will, against our strong protest. And the Birmingham City Council recently just basically put tape over our mouths and tied our hands behind our backs and said we don’t even have the ability to object to these data centers being brought into our communities.”
As Brokaw left the courtroom, the judge said she would not allow distractions that would hinder her ability to hear testimony and make a decision in the case.
The defense then called Katrina Thomas to the stand. Thomas is the director of Birmingham’s Department of Planning, Engineering and Permitting, and issued the building permit allowing construction to begin at the site.
The hearing is scheduled to resume Thursday.