Menlo Digital data center campus on Jamestown Drive
Also called: MD-VA3
Menlo Digital wants four data center buildings, about 1.2 million square feet, on 74 acres, with its own 300-megawatt substation. Petersburg changed its zoning in 2024 so data centers are allowed 'by right' on industrial land, with no public hearing.
Where things stand: Site plan submitted and waiting for city approval.
🕒 Latest update (July 21, 2026): City documents showed Menlo grew its plan from two to four buildings (1.2 million square feet).
What we know
- 📍 Where2255 Jamestown Drive, Petersburg, Petersburg city
- 🏢 CompanyMenlo Digital
- 🌳 Size74 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs300 megawatts (about as much as 240,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromA new 300-megawatt substation on the campus
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Has Petersburg approved Menlo Digital's site plan? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water will the Menlo campus use? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- July 21, 2026City documents showed Menlo grew its plan from two to four buildings (1.2 million square feet).
Local votes and rules
🗺️ Zoning change
City council unanimously rezoned 176 acres at 2088 Defense Road, 1918 Townes Road and 1926 Bogese Drive from farm and home zoning to light industrial for a data center near Collier Yard, and agreed to sell the land to the Warrenton Group for $5,000 an acre. Neighbors in Ramblewood objected.
🗺️ Zoning change
City council changed the zoning code so data centers are allowed by right in industrial zones. In July 2026 several council members said they had not known about three of four data center projects moving forward this way, and one called for special use permits instead.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Documents reveal details on data center projects in Petersburg's pipeline · Richmond BizSense · July 21, 2026
- Census geocoder: 2255 Jamestown Dr, Petersburg, VA · U.S. Census Bureau · Oct 7, 2026
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