The University of Michigan has purchased a 124-acre parcel on Textile Road in Ypsilanti Township as part of its ongoing evaluation of potential locations for a proposed high-performance computational research facility. University officials emphasized that the purchase does not represent a final decision on where the facility will be built.
The project remains in an active due-diligence phase, with no final site selected. Following an extensive initial review, the university is evaluating the Textile Road site, and a site at the Willow Run complex at the request of Ypsilanti Township officials. Both locations meet the technical and infrastructure requirements for this type of facility.
U-M, Los Alamos information
- U-M and Los Alamos National Laboratory are collaborating on a new supercomputing and AI research center to expand computational capacity and accelerate high-impact research for the public good.
Visit the project page on the Record site for information.
The Textile Road acquisition allows the university to preserve that property as a viable option while the site selection process continues. The Board of Regents in June 2025 authorized purchase of the parcel which is adjacent to a 19.82 acres the university already owns. There is no established timeline for a final decision.
University officials said the purchase reflects a broader approach to long-term planning, ensuring the institution has the flexibility and land resources needed to support future academic and research priorities.
Throughout the site evaluation process, U-M has engaged with local leaders and residents, including multiple meetings with elected officials and two open houses to gather community input. The university will continue to incorporate feedback as the process moves forward.
The proposed facility is part of a broader collaboration between U-M and Los Alamos National Laboratory to establish a new national research center focused on advancing innovation and discovery.
The high-performance computational facility will support research in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, infectious disease and clean energy, while helping accelerate scientific breakthroughs. University leaders say the project has the potential to strengthen Michigan’s role in science and technology and create long-term educational and job opportunities.
Matthew Sestak
So we’re now calling the data center that nobody wants a “supercomputing center” now. I see.
Madi Atkins
lol I came here to say the exact same thing.
Julie De Filippo
There are clearly viable industrial sites outside Ypsilanti that would avoid placing additional burdens on nearby neighborhoods. Faculty experts at UM and around the globe have also underscored the documented environmental impacts of noise, light, and water on local ecosystems and wildlife. Given these factors, it’s reasonable for residents to expect the University to take their concerns seriously and to reconsider decisions that directly affect the people living in this area.
If we truly aspire to be the ‘Leaders and Best,’ then we should be prioritizing existing industrial sites rather than bulldozing land that is clearly unsuitable for a data center. With the Saline government already moving forward with a data center despite significant community opposition, it’s reasonable to question how many more such facilities this region is expected to absorb. These are important questions for the University to consider as it evaluates both its environmental responsibilities and its impact on surrounding communities.
Tiffany Green
“Throughout the site evaluation process, U-M has engaged with local leaders and residents, including multiple meetings with elected officials and two open houses to gather community input.”
Oh my gosh! Two whole open houses, one as far away from Ypsilanti as you can get and another where they refused to answer questions on environmental and resident impact! Now that’s what I call due diligence! (sarcasm, in case it wasn’t clear)
Their idea of ‘engagement’ involves texts to elected officials informing them of things AFTER the fact: https://ypsitownship.org/news_detail_T2_R161.php
“Ypsilanti Township does not view U-M as a good neighbor, nor has U-M’s behavior gained anyone’s trust.” – Debbie Dingell, https://files.ypsitownship.org/_news/Data-Center/2026-01-30-Dingell-Letter-to-UofM-Los-Alamos-Data-Center.pdf?t=202602030944390&t=202602030944390
UM’s own School of Public Policy wrote a paper on how bad of an idea this whole thing is: https://files.ypsitownship.org/_news/Data-Center/What-Happens-When-a-Data-Center-Comes-to-Town.pdf?t=202602020924210&t=202602020924210
““This is just propaganda on a poster board so they can check off their little box that they have public engagement about the issue, which they absolutely did not.” – https://www.michigandaily.com/news/administration/umich-held-a-data-center-open-house-in-ypsilanti-township-many-residents-still-arent-satisfied/
“There has been a consistent pattern of disrespect: delaying holding a community meeting in Ypsilanti until 11 months after the project announcement, bypassing local government and refusing to divulge important details about the nature of their partnership with LANL.” – https://www.michigandaily.com/opinion/columns/the-university-finally-held-a-community-meeting-in-ypsilanti-it-failed-to-put-data-center-fears-to-rest/
UM has been lying about site intention, government engagement, resident engagement, and who knows what else from the beginning – https://www.easternecho.com/article/2026/01/ypsilanti-township-leaders-raise-concerns-seek-answers-on-u-m-los-alamos-data-center
“This project was born in dishonesty.” – https://www.michigandaily.com/letters-to-the-editor/re-the-u-m-data-center-in-ypsilanti-township-from-residents-faculty-and-community-members/
Surely, not all of these sources, many actual UM alums and staff, are all wrong?
Laura Zeitlin
The University has repeatedly demonstrated they have no real interest in respecting or working with our community. Every article that’s put out on this topic continues to lie about UM’s intentions and actions. Despite repeated requests, UM refuses to engage the community respectfully in the manner that has been requested (on the record livestreamed and recorded presentation with Q&A, attend Twp meeting, etc)
“The project remains in an active due-diligence phase, with no final site selected. Following an extensive initial review, the university is evaluating the Textile Road site, and a site at the Willow Run complex at the request of Ypsilanti Township officials. Both locations meet the technical and infrastructure requirements for this type of facility.”
If UM was doing due-diligence they would not have closed on the land-purchase to “preserve that property as a viable option”. The Willow run site is appropriate and though not embraced by the community, is accepted and preferred over UM destroying 125 acres of natural space hosting Bald Eagles and other wildlife next to the river and flanking the access point to Hydro Park. Just looking at the two sites, it’s obvious that that one is all-natural habitat and one is already established as an industrial site.
There are so many reasons why this is the wrong thing for UM to do to its less affluent and historically marginalized neighbors in Ypsi Twp. As an alum and staff member, I’m angry and ashamed.
Eva Hedwig Schueler
“Throughout the site evaluation process, U-M has engaged with local leaders and residents, including multiple meetings with elected officials and two open houses to gather community input.” Sadly, just saying this doesn’t make it true, I am disappointed that the Record continues to trot out “articles” such as this, which are little more than PR statements.
As Ypsilanti Township residents, University staff, alumni and faculty and even Representative Debbie Dingell have noted, the Board of Regents and President Grasso are acting as if they are above any kind of public accountability. How utterly and completely shameful that they care so little.
Rita Mitchell
The University of Michigan should demonstrate respect for land, nature, and neighbors. The process and purchase to date point to an intent to destroy natural areas and disregard the effects on neighbors. Where is the creativity and leadership? Are these meetings and publications just words to be paved over like the moss, lichens, spring peepers, salamanders, trout lilies, trillium, oaks, and all other understory lives? Make a better choice, University. Make things better, not destroyed.
Rita Mitchell
P.S. We know it’s a data center. University planners and decision makers, at least say that out loud, and own all of the repercussions of your decisions. You can still make a better decision. Will you?
Briana Chalker
The university keeps pushing this propaganda- everyone knows that it is a data center. No one in Ypsi township wants it built. It is going to destroy the land, water, air and animal habitats. The light and noise pollution will destroy the community. The data center will increase electric and water bills of local residents and it will decrease property values. If this project is such a great idea, then why isn’t it being built in Ann Arbor.
Cameron Woolley
I live in Ypsilanti about 5 minutes away from the proposed site. The University’s demonstrated, utter disrespect for my township and its residents is totally galling and reprehensible.
University officials, you should be ashamed of yourselves. The elitism and disdain you have shown for our wellbeing shows how little you care about the externalities of this project, so long as they don’t affect you. Ypsilanti hates you and wants you out. Build your polluting, municipal-tax-freeloading, non-job-creating mess of a data center somewhere else. I have an idea: how about Ann Arbor?
Sarah Goklevent
There’s no good faith explanation for everything surrounding this “project”, as many others in the comments pointed out.
Adding to which, to quote a report from UMich Ford School of Science, Technology, and Public Policy:
“Despite claims of job creation, data centers typically generate few permanent positions relative to the scale of public subsidy they receive. The high energy consumption and environmental impact of data centers can strain local infrastructure and undermine climate goals.”
– https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/sites/stpp/files/2025-07/stpp-data-centers-2025.pdf
What’s the point of having a school for “Science, Technology, and Public Policy” if this is how UMich is handling datacenters??