Data Center Story
April 20, 2025 at 3:16 p.m.
Editor, Times-Union:
Oregon’s Hillsboro Herald printed this article on April 16th. It is titled, “190 years of Farming ends as Latest Massive Data Centers and Factories Expand in Hillsboro.”
The author, Dirk Knudsen, described the first chapter of events in their story.
“With no master plans offered by the City of Hillsboro, unpublished utility designs, few if any public hearings, and a disjointed set of annexations and zone changes, the future is about to happen on another vast area of historic farms that have hugged the people of Hillsboro for generations.
In 2014, the State of Oregon and the City of Hillsboro demanded that more Industrial land be brought into the Urban Growth Boundary here in Hillsboro. The need, they argued, was because a secretive employer was about to locate in Hillsboro, and hundreds of acres were needed for their use, or they would not come.
The secret project known only to a few high-ranking government officials was nicknamed Project Azalea. So, despite opposition from land use groups, the biggest one-time land annexation in the history of Oregon was done. The Grand Bargain, they called it - over 1,100 acres of land for “High Paying Jobs.”
Knudsen goes on to explain the losses associated with this “future.” He says, “Sadly, when construction stops, not very many jobs will be left. And each building will get a 5-Year Enterprise zone package and will pay no property taxes for 5 years. No jobs, no revenues, and questionable environmental impacts with few, if any benefits, for Hillsboro and its citizens. Not to mention the loss of farm land.”
In the guise of progress, a 190-year-old farm, called the Vanderzanden Windmill and Tulip Farm will be forever lost.
The farm, and other tillable acreage is set to be replaced with warehouses with loading docks for a distribution center, 4 data center buildings, parking lots, a retention pond, new roadways, tall, woven wire fencing, 24/7/365 lights for parking lot(s) and building(s) security, and a steam & noise spewing industrial complex.
The author, Dirk Knudsen, said, “Data centers drive AI. Most likely, a good percentage of people will lose their jobs or have to change their careers.”
The article concluded with a quote from a 74-year resident. She said, “I was born and raised here. I can’t wait to move out.”
Will Kosciusko County have the same story ending?
Nell Jackson
Milford, via email
Latest News
E-Editions
Editor, Times-Union:
Oregon’s Hillsboro Herald printed this article on April 16th. It is titled, “190 years of Farming ends as Latest Massive Data Centers and Factories Expand in Hillsboro.”
The author, Dirk Knudsen, described the first chapter of events in their story.
“With no master plans offered by the City of Hillsboro, unpublished utility designs, few if any public hearings, and a disjointed set of annexations and zone changes, the future is about to happen on another vast area of historic farms that have hugged the people of Hillsboro for generations.
In 2014, the State of Oregon and the City of Hillsboro demanded that more Industrial land be brought into the Urban Growth Boundary here in Hillsboro. The need, they argued, was because a secretive employer was about to locate in Hillsboro, and hundreds of acres were needed for their use, or they would not come.
The secret project known only to a few high-ranking government officials was nicknamed Project Azalea. So, despite opposition from land use groups, the biggest one-time land annexation in the history of Oregon was done. The Grand Bargain, they called it - over 1,100 acres of land for “High Paying Jobs.”
Knudsen goes on to explain the losses associated with this “future.” He says, “Sadly, when construction stops, not very many jobs will be left. And each building will get a 5-Year Enterprise zone package and will pay no property taxes for 5 years. No jobs, no revenues, and questionable environmental impacts with few, if any benefits, for Hillsboro and its citizens. Not to mention the loss of farm land.”
In the guise of progress, a 190-year-old farm, called the Vanderzanden Windmill and Tulip Farm will be forever lost.
The farm, and other tillable acreage is set to be replaced with warehouses with loading docks for a distribution center, 4 data center buildings, parking lots, a retention pond, new roadways, tall, woven wire fencing, 24/7/365 lights for parking lot(s) and building(s) security, and a steam & noise spewing industrial complex.
The author, Dirk Knudsen, said, “Data centers drive AI. Most likely, a good percentage of people will lose their jobs or have to change their careers.”
The article concluded with a quote from a 74-year resident. She said, “I was born and raised here. I can’t wait to move out.”
Will Kosciusko County have the same story ending?
Nell Jackson
Milford, via email