20-story data center tower (Western Newspaper Union building, Quality Hill)
A Miami developer wanted to build a 20-story data center tower on top of a historic building in Quality Hill. The City Plan Commission voted 6-0 against it in August 2026. The mayor said the City Council is unlikely to approve it.
Where things stand: City Plan Commission voted 6-0 to deny it on Aug. 5, 2026. The developer could still ask the City Council.
🕒 Latest update (Aug 5, 2026): City Plan Commission voted 6-0 to deny the 384-foot data center tower; 475 letters opposed it.
What we know
- 📍 Where934 Central Street (10th and Central), Quality Hill, downtown Kansas City, Kansas City, Jackson County
- 🏢 CompanyRevitalization Unlimited
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromDeveloper said it expected to use Bloom Energy fuel cells.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Will the developer take the plan to the City Council anyway? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- June 2026Developer met with the city's Development Review Committee.
- Aug 5, 2026City Plan Commission voted 6-0 to deny the 384-foot data center tower; 475 letters opposed it.
Local votes and rules
✋ Turned down
City Plan Commission voted 6-0 to deny a 20-story, 384-foot data center tower at 10th and Central in Quality Hill, in a historic building. 475 letters opposed it. The developer could still ask the City Council to overrule.
📜 Data center rules
City council voted unanimously for new zoning rules. Data centers are now treated as industrial, can only go in certain zones, and big ones need a council vote plus letters from KC Water and Evergy saying they can serve them.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Kansas City Plan Commission blocks data center plan for historic Quality Hill site · KCTV5 · Aug 5, 2026
- Kansas City officials denied a plan for downtown data center. Some residents vow to keep fighting · KCUR · Aug 10, 2026
- Quality Hill community weighs in on 20-story data center proposal before city review · KCTV5 · July 7, 2026
- Census geocoder: 934 Central St, Kansas City, MO 64105 · U.S. Census Bureau · Oct 7, 2026
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