Miami

Researched: 2026-08-02 · Lead source: Brockovich AI Data Center community map (2 resident reports, 2026-04-29 → 2026-06-02) · ZIP demographics: 62.6% Black, pop 23,209 (Census ACS 2023) · County: Miami-Dade (roughly 15% Black — verify at census.gov/quickfacts/miamidadecountyflorida) Status: Under construction — Iron Mountain "MIA-1" AI-ready data center, topped out September 2025, 2026 launch. Active community opposition.

This report is research, not legal, financial, real-estate, or investment advice.

0. Snapshot

ZIP 33167 covers Westview, Pinewood, West Little River and Gladeview — unincorporated, majority-Black north-central Miami-Dade. This is a textbook environmental-justice pattern: a 62.6% Black ZIP inside a county that is only ~15% Black, hosting the county's first data center sited in a residential Black neighborhood.

• The facility is real, not just a resident pin. Iron Mountain "MIA-1" — a 150,000 sq ft, 16 MW (phased), $150 million AI/GPU-ready colocation data center at 2925 NW 120th Terrace, in the Westview neighborhood. It is a conversion of a former Iron Mountain records-storage building on a 3.4-acre site. Topped out September 2025; 2026 launch on what the company calls 100% carbon-free energy.
• How it dodged public hearings. The county classified it as a "telecommunications hub," not a "data center," so it was permitted by right under industrial zoning — no rezoning, no public hearing. The public-notice radius was only 500 feet. Approvals included a height increase (70→75 ft) and a parking reduction (91→26 spaces).
• It slips under the new state law. Florida's SB 484 (signed 2026, effective July 1, 2026) protects ratepayers and water and requires reclaimed water — but it applies to data centers 50 MW and above. At 16 MW, MIA-1 falls below that threshold and is exempt.
• "Residents say nobody told them." The Miami-Dade NAACP launched a "Stop Dirty Data" campaign on 2026-04-29; residents confronted their county commissioner at an April 2026 town hall and are demanding a Community Benefits Agreement.
• Jobs gap. The Beacon Council cited ~30 permanent jobs; Iron Mountain's own site listed only two Miami-area roles (remote).
• Power/water context: utility is Florida Power & Light (FPL); water is Miami-Dade Water & Sewer over the Biscayne aquifer, which faces saltwater intrusion and sea-level pressure.

1. The Facility & Where It Sits

• Operator: Iron Mountain (data-center division; parent HQ New Hampshire/Boston). Facility name MIA-1. (Iron Mountain; datacentermap, accessed 2026-08-02)
• Address/site: 2925 NW 120th Terrace, Miami, FL 33167, in the Westview neighborhood of unincorporated Miami-Dade. 3.4-acre site; a conversion of a former Iron Mountain records-storage facility. (datacenterHawk; FloridaDataCenters.org, accessed 2026-08-02)
• Size: 150,000 sq ft, 16 MW capacity (phased), $150 million investment. Described as GPU-ready, high-density for AI deployments. (datacenters.com; baxtel, accessed 2026-08-02)
• Connectivity: carrier-neutral; access to ~62,000 miles of submarine cabling to Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe — the reason Miami is a data hub.
• Timeline/status: conversion announced 2023; groundbreaking messaging February 2025; topped out September 2025; 2026 launch (no exact date announced). Under construction as of 2026-08-02. (FloridaDataCenters.org, accessed 2026-08-02)

The border — where it sits relative to people

• It is in the Black neighborhood, not on the industrial edge of a whiter one. Westview/Pinewood is a predominantly Black community (~10,000 residents in the immediate area); ZIP 33167 is 62.6% Black. Pinewood is ~69% Black; West Little River ~40% Black. The surrounding county is ~15% Black. That contrast is the finding.
• The site is a former storage building on NW 120th Terrace, surrounded by homes — residents describe it as "hiding in plain sight." Twin Lakes / North Shore Gardens are among the adjacent neighborhoods.
• This is the county's first data center in a residential neighborhood; Miami-Dade already hosts ~27 operational data centers, but in industrial/commercial districts.

2. Public Hearings & Notices

The core issue: there were essentially none. By classifying MIA-1 as a "telecommunications hub" rather than a "data center," Miami-Dade allowed it to be permitted by right under existing industrial zoning, bypassing rezoning and public hearings. Notice went only to properties within 500 feet. (FloridaDataCenters.org; WLRN, accessed 2026-08-02)

Upcoming: No specific county hearing on this facility was found as of 2026-08-02 (because none was legally required). The organizing ask is for the County Commission to require a Community Benefits Agreement and tighter data-center zoning going forward. Watch the District 2 office and the Board of County Commissioners agenda (Section 8).

3. Power

• Serving utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL) — the electric provider across most of Miami-Dade. Iron Mountain says MIA-1 will run on 100% carbon-free energy at launch; the mechanism (FPL solar/nuclear mix, RECs, or on-site) was not detailed in a reachable public source as of 2026-08-02 — a fair question to press. (FloridaDataCenters.org, accessed 2026-08-02)
• State law / who pays: SB 484 requires the Florida PSC to make large data centers pay their own cost of service so residential and small-business customers don't subsidize them — but only at 50 MW and above. MIA-1 at 16 MW is below the threshold and exempt, so the ratepayer protections do not automatically apply here. Compliance filings were due to the PSC by Oct 1, 2026; PSC rulemaking deadline is March 1, 2027. (Florida Senate SB 484 summary; The Invading Sea, accessed 2026-08-02)
• On-site generation: none announced. No gas turbines (contrast with xAI Memphis).

4. Water & Drought

• Aquifer: South Florida drinking water comes from the Biscayne aquifer, a shallow, highly permeable aquifer under growing stress from saltwater intrusion and sea-level rise. A large new cooling draw in this basin is a legitimate concern. (The Invading Sea, accessed 2026-08-02)
• Reclaimed water rule: SB 484 pushes large data centers toward reclaimed water instead of potable/groundwater — but again, MIA-1's 16 MW puts it below the 50 MW law, so its cooling water source and volume are not governed by that mandate. Iron Mountain's specific cooling method and daily water draw for MIA-1 were Not found as of 2026-08-02. Ask Miami-Dade Water & Sewer and Iron Mountain directly.
• Serving utility: Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD).
• Drought/sea level: South Florida's binding water constraint is saltwater intrusion and sea-level rise, not classic drought. Check live county conditions at droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

5. Population & Who Lives Here

• ZIP 33167: 62.6% Black, pop 23,209 (Census ACS 2023). Covers Westview, Pinewood, West Little River, Gladeview.
• Neighborhood detail: Pinewood ~68.9% Black, poverty ~20.5%; West Little River ~40.2% Black, poverty ~17.7%. (worldpopulationreview — Pinewood; Wikipedia — West Little River, accessed 2026-08-02)
• Environmental-justice framing: advocates describe the siting as a continuation of the historical pattern of placing industrial facilities in Black and low-income neighborhoods — here made worse by the "telecommunications hub" reclassification that removed the community's chance to object.
• Documented health burden tied specifically to this facility: None yet — it is not operating. Concerns raised by residents are noise, air quality, water use, electricity demand, and long-term health, plus property values. (Miami Times, accessed 2026-08-02)

6. Money — Abatements, Incentives, Jobs

• Investment: $150 million (Iron Mountain). A public tax abatement/incentive figure specific to MIA-1 was Not found as of 2026-08-02 — ask the Beacon Council and the county whether any incentive or fee arrangement applies.
• Jobs: the Beacon Council cited roughly 30 permanent jobs at an average $71K+. Reporting noted Iron Mountain's own careers site listed only two Miami-area positions (remote, higher-paid) — so the local-hire benefit is the open question residents are pressing, along with a Community Benefits Agreement. (FloridaDataCenters.org, accessed 2026-08-02)
• Ratepayer economics: because MIA-1 is under 50 MW, SB 484's cost-allocation protections don't automatically bind it — meaning the normal assurance that "the data center pays its own way" is not guaranteed here. Worth confirming with FPL/PSC.

7. Community Reaction & News Coverage

• Organized opposition:
  • Miami-Dade NAACP — "Stop Dirty Data" campaign, launched 2026-04-29. Branch President Daniella Pierre has pressed for transparency, environmental-health monitoring, public-records requests, community input, and moratoriums where needed. This ties into the national NAACP "Stop Dirty Data Centers" campaign. (NAACP; FloridaDataCenters.org, accessed 2026-08-02)
  • Twin Lakes / North Shore Gardens HOA — community meeting 2026-04-27.
  • Residents demanding a Community Benefits Agreement.
  • Resident voices in coverage include Amy Dawkins ("It's definitely hiding in plain sight") and Elizabeth Favier Bellamy.
• News outlets: The Miami Times (Black-owned), WLRN (public radio), Miami Herald / Tampa Bay Times (joint investigation, 2026-04-22), plus Miami New Times and FloridaDataCenters.org (opposition tracker). (Miami Times; WLRN, accessed 2026-08-02)
• Lawsuits: None found as of 2026-08-02. The fight is political/organizing, not (yet) litigation.

8. Find Out For Yourself

County — the main door

Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners — District 2, Commissioner Marleine Bastien (covers North Dade Central including areas near Westview; confirm your own district)

• District Office: 915 NE 125th St, Suite 2A, Miami, FL 33161 · (305) 694-2779
• miamidade.gov — District 2 · Find your district: miamidade.gov/mymiamidade
• Ask for: the permit file classifying MIA-1 as a "telecommunications hub," the height/parking variances, and whether a Community Benefits Agreement or data-center zoning ordinance is on the agenda.

Miami-Dade Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) / Planning & Zoning — miamidade.gov · request the building/zoning permits and site plan for 2925 NW 120th Terrace.

Utilities

Florida Power & Light (FPL) — fpl.com · ask how MIA-1's 16 MW is served and what "100% carbon-free" actually means for this site. Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (WASD) — miamidade.gov/water · ask about the facility's cooling water source and projected daily draw on the Biscayne aquifer.

State

Florida Public Service Commission — floridapsc.com · SB 484 large-load tariff rulemaking (deadline March 1, 2027); ask whether sub-50 MW facilities like MIA-1 are captured.

Advocacy

Miami-Dade NAACP — "Stop Dirty Data" (Branch President Daniella Pierre) — naacp.org/campaigns/stop-dirty-data-centers FloridaDataCenters.org — Miami-Dade page (opposition tracker, letter tool) — floridadatacenters.org/miami-dade-county

Six questions worth asking on the phone

1. To District 2 / RER: Why was MIA-1 classified as a "telecommunications hub" instead of a "data center," and does that classification still apply now that it's GPU/AI infrastructure?
2. To the County: Will Miami-Dade adopt data-center zoning rules — setbacks, noise limits, larger notice radius — so the next one can't skip public hearings?
3. To FPL: How is the 16 MW served, and what does "100% carbon-free" mean here — on-site, PSC-approved solar, or unbundled RECs?
4. To WASD: What is the cooling water source and daily draw, and does any of it come from the Biscayne aquifer?
5. To the Beacon Council: What is the enforceable local-hire and permanent-jobs commitment, and is there a Community Benefits Agreement?
6. To your Commissioner: Will you support a moratorium or a CBA before MIA-1 goes live?

9. If You're Thinking About Moving Here

Neutral read, given what is documented:

• Process, not just pollution. The most concrete finding here is that a 150,000 sq ft AI data center was approved without a public hearing by calling it a "telecommunications hub," with notice to only a 500-ft radius. Residents learned from neighbors.
• Air/noise. The facility isn't operating yet, so there's no monitoring record. Data centers of this size run 24/7 cooling; residents' concerns center on noise and air quality once it's live. Ask for a noise/air commitment in writing.
• Water. Your water is the Biscayne aquifer, already fighting saltwater intrusion and sea-level rise. Because MIA-1 is under 50 MW, the new state reclaimed-water mandate doesn't automatically bind it — get the cooling source in writing.
• Power bills. SB 484's "data centers pay their own way" protection applies at 50 MW+, and this site is 16 MW — so that assurance is not guaranteed here. Watch FPL rate cases.
• Land prices. This is the county's first residential-neighborhood data center; whether it depresses nearby property values (a resident concern) or signals more industrial conversion nearby is unresolved.
• What's unresolved: the "telecommunications hub" classification; whether the county tightens data-center zoning; the real cooling water source; the true local-hire number; and whether residents win a Community Benefits Agreement.

If you're considering moving to or staying in 33167, the practical steps are to pull the permit file for 2925 NW 120th Terrace from Miami-Dade RER, contact Commissioner Bastien's office, and connect with the Miami-Dade NAACP "Stop Dirty Data" organizers.

10. Sources

All accessed 2026-08-02.

1. FloridaDataCenters.org — "Miami-Dade Data Center — Iron Mountain MIA-1 Westview" (zoning classification, 500-ft notice, height/parking variances, residents, NAACP, jobs) — https://floridadatacenters.org/miami-dade-county
2. WLRN — "New Miami-Dade data center sparks concerns in Black community" (2026-04-29) — https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2026-04-29/new-miami-dade-data-center-sparks-concerns-in-black-community
3. The Miami Times — "New Miami-Dade data center sparks concerns in Black community" — https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/new-miami-dade-data-center-sparks-concerns-in-black-community/article_a57bf824-8b54-4c4d-a51c-783edf76b935.html
4. NAACP — "Stop Dirty Data Centers" campaign — https://naacp.org/campaigns/stop-dirty-data-centers
5. Iron Mountain — Miami Data Center (MIA-1) — https://www.ironmountain.com/data-centers/locations/miami-data-center
6. datacentermap — Iron Mountain MIA-1, Miami (16 MW) — https://www.datacentermap.com/usa/florida/miami/iron-mountain-mia-1/
7. datacenterHawk — Iron Mountain MIA-1, 2925 NW 120th Terrace — https://datacenterhawk.com/marketplace/providers/iron-mountain-data-centers/2925-nw-120th-terrace/mia-1
8. baxtel — Iron Mountain Miami MIA-1 — https://baxtel.com/data-center/iron-mountain-miami-mia1
9. datacenters.com — Iron Mountain MIA-1 Miami (150,000 sq ft, GPU-ready, 2026, carbon-free) — https://www.datacenters.com/iron-mountain-mia-1-miami
10. Florida Senate — CS/CS/SB 484 (2026) Data Centers, bill summary — https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2026/html/484
11. Florida Governor's Office — "DeSantis Signs Law to Protect Floridians from Subsidizing Data Centers" — https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2026/governor-ron-desantis-signs-law-protect-floridians-subsidizing-data-centers
12. The Invading Sea — "Legislation aims to protect Floridians from data center costs, but will it?" (2026-03-31) — https://www.theinvadingsea.com/2026/03/31/data-centers-florida-legislature-sb-484-desantis-utilities-psc-project-tango-nda-water-energy/
13. The Invading Sea — "Is bill regulating data centers a win for Florida?…" (2026-03-19) — https://www.theinvadingsea.com/2026/03/19/data-centers-florida-legislature-sb-484-reclaimed-water-utility-infrastructure-nondisclosure-agreements/
14. worldpopulationreview — Pinewood, Florida (demographics) — https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/florida/pinewood
15. Wikipedia — West Little River, Florida (demographics, ZIPs) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Little_River,_Florida
16. Miami-Dade County — District 2 Commissioner Marleine Bastien — https://www.miamidade.gov/global/government/commission/district02/home.page
17. U.S. Drought Monitor — Florida — https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?FL