RUMOR OF A DATA CENTER IN THE CITY OF ALACHUA, FL DEBUNKED
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HAROLD SAIVE
May 21, 2026, 11:21:57 PM (2 days ago) May 21
to Town Square News
By Ryan Hayes: Published: May 18, 2026 at 10:47 PM EDT|Updated: 13 hours ago
https://www.wcjb.com/2026/05/19/alachua-residents-voice-concerns-over-potential-data-center-development/
5/18/2026: ALACHUA, Fla. (WCJB) - Dozens of Alachua residents gathered to express concerns about rumors of a data center moving in along U.S. 441, spending hours speaking against the potential development even though the issue was not officially on the agenda.
The rumors began with an online real estate listing by Eric Ligman on My Gainesville Realty dot com. The listing currently calls the 104-acre property near the San Felasco Tech City a large-scale industrial redevelopment and manufacturing campus opportunity. The property was once an Energizer battery plant.
Many at the meeting were concerned because the website’s URL reads high-megawatt-data-center-development-site. Online archive tools indicate the name of the listing has changed.
Data centers store massive amounts of information and are essential infrastructure for technology like artificial intelligence. Dozens spoke out against environmental risks they feel are posed by a center’s potential implementation in Alachua and the potential impact it could have on property values.
“Housing prices, I think if you’re living next to a data center and you have a house that’s worth $200 thousand, it will probably be very hard to sell and I think that’s being shown in peoples day to day lives people are having issues selling their houses after these centers are built,” said Tiffany Cole, who lives near the site of the listing.
Cole also expressed concerns about noise pollution coming from the centers.
The meeting was initially supposed to be a joint county and city meeting, and data centers were on the agenda. The county portion of the meeting was cancelled so more members can be present when data centers are discussed more formally.
Commissioners plan to discuss the matter at the Alachua 2050 workshop at Alachua City Hall on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Eric Ligman, the real estate agent who posted the listing, has not responded to a request for comment.
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Copyright 2026 WCJB. All rights reserved.
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Eric Ligman at Bosshardt Realty Services
Eric Ligman is the Director of the Commercial and Land Division at Bosshardt Realty Services, a role he has held since being named to the position. He has been with Bosshardt Realty Services since August 12, 2004, accumulating over two decades of experience in the North Florida commercial real estate market. Ligman is known for his commitment to clients, innovative strategies, and comprehensive knowledge of the local real estate landscape. He oversees operations and manages teams within the company, specializing in real estate services and client engagement.
Ligman's expertise spans various commercial real estate sectors, including tenant representation, lease negotiations, investment properties, land valuation, and corporate real estate ventures. He is dedicated to helping clients navigate the North and Central Florida commercial real estate market, offering personalized service and expert guidance. His work has involved brokering deals with national and regional companies, and he is credited with orchestrating significant local land deals, with over 45 million dollars in sold transactions in 2019. Bosshardt Realty Services, where Ligman works, is a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in buying, selling, and investing in properties across North Florida. The office address for Bosshardt Realty Services is 5542 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653.
https://www.wcjb.com/2026/05/19/alachua-residents-voice-concerns-over-potential-data-center-development/
5/18/2026: ALACHUA, Fla. (WCJB) - Dozens of Alachua residents gathered to express concerns about rumors of a data center moving in along U.S. 441, spending hours speaking against the potential development even though the issue was not officially on the agenda.
The rumors began with an online real estate listing by Eric Ligman on My Gainesville Realty dot com. The listing currently calls the 104-acre property near the San Felasco Tech City a large-scale industrial redevelopment and manufacturing campus opportunity. The property was once an Energizer battery plant.
Many at the meeting were concerned because the website’s URL reads high-megawatt-data-center-development-site. Online archive tools indicate the name of the listing has changed.
Data centers store massive amounts of information and are essential infrastructure for technology like artificial intelligence. Dozens spoke out against environmental risks they feel are posed by a center’s potential implementation in Alachua and the potential impact it could have on property values.
“Housing prices, I think if you’re living next to a data center and you have a house that’s worth $200 thousand, it will probably be very hard to sell and I think that’s being shown in peoples day to day lives people are having issues selling their houses after these centers are built,” said Tiffany Cole, who lives near the site of the listing.
Cole also expressed concerns about noise pollution coming from the centers.
The meeting was initially supposed to be a joint county and city meeting, and data centers were on the agenda. The county portion of the meeting was cancelled so more members can be present when data centers are discussed more formally.
Commissioners plan to discuss the matter at the Alachua 2050 workshop at Alachua City Hall on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Eric Ligman, the real estate agent who posted the listing, has not responded to a request for comment.
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2026 WCJB. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------
Eric Ligman at Bosshardt Realty Services
Eric Ligman is the Director of the Commercial and Land Division at Bosshardt Realty Services, a role he has held since being named to the position. He has been with Bosshardt Realty Services since August 12, 2004, accumulating over two decades of experience in the North Florida commercial real estate market. Ligman is known for his commitment to clients, innovative strategies, and comprehensive knowledge of the local real estate landscape. He oversees operations and manages teams within the company, specializing in real estate services and client engagement.
Ligman's expertise spans various commercial real estate sectors, including tenant representation, lease negotiations, investment properties, land valuation, and corporate real estate ventures. He is dedicated to helping clients navigate the North and Central Florida commercial real estate market, offering personalized service and expert guidance. His work has involved brokering deals with national and regional companies, and he is credited with orchestrating significant local land deals, with over 45 million dollars in sold transactions in 2019. Bosshardt Realty Services, where Ligman works, is a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in buying, selling, and investing in properties across North Florida. The office address for Bosshardt Realty Services is 5542 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653.
asavetmd
May 21, 2026, 11:29:08 PM (2 days ago) May 21
to town-squ...@googlegroups.com
Data centers are tools of oppression, they radiate massive amounts of heat and consume massive amounts of water to cool them. The heat is equivalent to multiple Atomic Bombs daily.
May The Force be with you,
Bill
Bill
William H. Warrick III MD (Retired)
1729 NW 11th Rd
Open Source Intelligence Analyst
Gainesville, Fl. 32605-5321
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