Farmer donated land for a park — Texas city turned it into a $10 million data center deal

A legal dispute is unfolding in Taylor, Texas, after nearly 88 acres of land donated by a local farmer for future park use were sold for data center development, prompting opposition from nearby residents who say the original intent of the gift has been disregarded.

The land was initially donated in 1999 by farmer Mr. Bland through a deed that transferred the property for a nominal $10 fee with the condition that it be held in trust for future parkland. The property subsequently passed through several nonprofit organizations before being transferred to the City of Taylor. In 2008, the city sold the land to the Taylor Economic Development Corporation for $15,000, and in 2025 the corporation sold it to data center developer Blueprint for $10 million.

The proposed project, a 135,000-square-foot data center, has generated significant opposition from residents living near the site. Local homeowner Pamela Griffin, who grew up around the former farmland, said she only learned of the development plans in 2025 after neighborhood organizers began informing residents. Opponents have raised concerns about potential impacts on noise levels, water consumption, electricity demand, air quality, and nearby property values.

City officials have argued that the project could deliver substantial economic benefits, including an estimated $30 million in tax revenue over the next decade, with roughly $20 million expected to support local schools. Officials have also stated that the property’s existing zoning limits the city’s ability to prevent the development, although Blueprint still requires planning and building permits before construction can proceed.

The controversy has increasingly centered on the language of the original 1999 deed, which specifies that the land should be held in trust for future use as parkland. Residents opposing the project have cited the document as evidence that the property’s conversion to commercial use violates the donor’s intentions. Several court rulings have so far favored the developer, but Griffin and other opponents are pursuing an appeal before Texas’ Third Court of Appeals in Austin.

For opponents, the dispute extends beyond concerns about a data center. They argue that the case raises broader questions about whether land donated for public purposes can later be repurposed for commercial development, despite restrictions contained in the original deed. Meanwhile, city leaders maintain that the project represents an important source of future tax revenue and economic growth for the community.

Sources: Tom’s Hardware, 404 Media