GIBRALTAR, MI, UNITED STATES, August 19, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — RAEDEN, a data center developer and operator specializing in the adaptive reuse of real estate assets, is seeking legal action to confirm 27800 West Jefferson’s permitted use as a data center (case number: 2:26-cv-12893 filed with U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan). RAEDEN has spent several months communicating with the City of Gibraltar’s leadership to meet the City’s requirements.
The community’s judgement is important to RAEDEN’s leadership. RAEDEN answered all questions (in person, on calls, and in writing), provided City leadership with a tour of an operating data center, held a town hall, and spoke to many members of the community in person. Additionally, RAEDEN provided a proposed agreement with the City of Gibraltar that would bind the company to fulfilling its commitments regarding noise and water consumption.
The company awaits a validation under the City’s zoning ordinance, which the City itself confirmed in writing, permits the use of this industrial site for a data center. There is no path to move forward in the process and no path to appeal. The Filing asks the court to answer this question: Does an application submitted in good faith, under the rules in place at the time, get reviewed and approved when the plan meets all the criteria?
27800 West Jefferson is a heavy industrial property located around an EPA-designated Superfund site stemming from its historical use as a steel mill and steel processing facility. RAEDEN will redevelop the property into a data center that will serve as a major economic anchor for the local community.
– The data center will use 300-450 gallons of water per day for staff (less than the consumption of two households) and ZERO gallons of water per day for cooling.
– The cooling system will be closed-loop, meaning it will be filled one time, and then it will use ZERO gallons of water on a daily, monthly, or yearly basis.
– RAEDEN is bound by the State of Michigan’s regulations involving backup generators and committed to applying our standard engineering practices, reducing generator emissions well below State mandates.
– RAEDEN only hires local trades and permanent jobs. We are committed to responsible, efficient, and considerate business practices well beyond anything the zoning ordinance could require of us.
– RAEDEN is in communication with Friends of the Detroit River and officials at the Refuge to confirm work on the site as positive, beneficial to the overall ecosystem, and not remotely impactful to anyone.
RAEDEN asks the court to review the application as required by City code.
This case addresses a major issue with the process, not against Gibraltar or any members of the Gibraltar Community.
“Raeden remains steadfast and committed to continued collaboration and working transparently with Gibraltar to address community concerns and develop a responsible data center benefitting everyone. The legal action focuses solely to rightfully move the review process along and focus on Raeden’s adherence to comply with Gibraltar code.” —Jason Green, President & Co-Founder, RAEDEN
About RAEDEN
Technology moves fast — but data center space, power, and connectivity often don’t. RAEDEN vets thousands of sites across the U.S., with a focus on repurposing existing industrial and commercial buildings into modern data center infrastructure. RAEDEN gives underutilized properties new life and host communities a faster path to the economic benefits of redevelopment. RAEDEN delivers and operates turnkey data center solutions rapidly, responsibly, and with transparency. RAEDEN was founded in 2019 by veterans of the data center, telecommunications, and real estate industries.
Tony Allegrina
Bodman Law
AAllegrina@BODMANLAW.COM
Natalie Parra-Novosad
RAEDEN
email us here
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