NuVu Real Estate data center campus on County Drive
NuVu plans three data center buildings using up to 300 megawatts on 75 acres near I-95. It could cost $1.1 billion. Petersburg changed its zoning in 2024 so data centers are allowed 'by right' on industrial land, with no public hearing.
Where things stand: City approved the site plan in February 2026. No rezoning or public hearing was needed.
🕒 Latest update (Feb 2026): Petersburg approved the site plan, the city's first for a data center.
What we know
- 📍 Where2588 County Drive, between I-95 and County Drive, Petersburg, Petersburg city
- 🏢 CompanyNuVu Real Estate
- 🌳 Size75 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs300 megawatts (about as much as 240,000 homes)
- 💵 Cost$1.1 billion
- 💸 Tax breaksThe site is in an opportunity zone, which can bring federal tax benefits.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How much water will the NuVu County Drive campus use? 🙋 I'll find out
- Who will be the end user of the NuVu campus? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- May 2025NuVu submitted its site plan to the city.
- Feb 2026Petersburg approved the site plan, the city's first for a data center.
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
- Data center projects in Petersburg · WTVR CBS 6 · July 21, 2026
- Census geocoder: 2588 County Dr, Petersburg, VA · U.S. Census Bureau · Oct 7, 2026
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