(MODESTO, CA.) -- Knowledge regarding a potential data center coming to Modesto has come to light thanks to an eye-opening social media post by District 3 Council Member Chris Ricci.
Photo Credit: Facebook / Chris Ricci for Modesto City Council District 3
The Facebook post claimed that NorthPoint Development, the nation’s top real estate and Data Center developer, is lobbying City Council Members to build a Data Center on 1200 Graphics Drive. In the post he stated that now would be the best time for residents to voice their concerns.
“I think that the public has been really united and their feelings about the data center, right, and so I think that certainly will have a large impact on the decision that we make in the future”, Ricci told OpGov.News. The council member also told OpGov.News that he, along with other city officials, was notified of NorthPoint's interest in a Data Center via email on July 29.
He told OpGov.News that it was only after he received the email that he decided to create the Facebook post. The proposed site formerly belonged to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, a massive producer of barium compounds which ended production in 1984.
While this may seem new, available public records show that NorthPoint Development had created a business under the name “NP Modesto Industrial” five years ago on March 30, 2021, with its jurisdiction residing within the state of Delaware. Just a day after, on March 31, 2021, NorthPoint Development had submitted its California LLC-5 form, granting the newly formed NP Modesto Industrial business to operate within the state of California.
Photo Credit: BizFileOnline.SOS.CA.Gov
Subsequently, an agenda item dated June 7, 2021, revealed that City Council members approved a merger of three divided parcels of land to total 45 gross acres. The location of that parcel merge was 1200 Graphics Drive. Under the Financial Disclosure Form located on the last page of the document, NorthPoint Development is named as the developer of this project.
Furthermore, additional information from an older planning commission document corroborates NorthPoint’s prior active involvement regarding 1200 Graphics Drive. It states, “ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Planning Commission that it hereby grants to NorthPoint Development a two year extension of time to June 7, 2027, for filing the Final Parcel Map of 1200 Graphics Drive...”
Four years later, in 2025, an email addressed to Modesto’s Building Safety Division from NP Modesto Industrial reflected talk of a shell building permit.
The subject of the email titled ‘Deferred Plumbing Submittal’ from Gary Spencer of NP Modesto Industrial to the City of Modesto states, "This building permit application is being submitted to receive a Shell Building Permit approval." For context, a shell building is a type of construction technique that prioritizes building the outer exterior structure of a building, such as walls, roof, and flooring, for example.
Photo Credit: Mode-trk.Aspgov.com
By leaving the interior vacant and empty, adaptability for the usage of space is streamlined for future businesses, which facilitates their configuration preferences upon move-in. The additional contents of the email highlight plumbing plans being deferred as a submittal, allowing for plumbing lines to be laid before any concrete is poured.
It is also worth mentioning that NorthPoint Development paid roughly $182,000 in school facilities developer fees to construct something that is 216,000-square-feet in size. The location? None other than 1200 Graphics Drive, according to a Modesto City schools document.
Despite these public records, the City of Modesto issued a press release to quell public concerns.
“While the City has received general inquiries from companies about the possibility of developing data centers in Modesto, no applications have been submitted,” the press release stated.
Photo Credit: Change.org
Additional input from the City’s press release highlighted the fact that under its Municipal Code, data centers are not allowed. While this brings some reassurance, residents of Modesto have already garnered over 1200 signatures on a petition affirming their stance against any Data Centers in the county.
A city council meeting scheduled for August 11 at 5:30 p.m. will hold an open comment session, where residents will be able to share their opinions on the matter.
OpGov.News made multiple attempts to seek comment from NorthPoint Development. The firm that “builds relationships that go beyond the contract” has not responded to our inquiries.
This is a developing story. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please email me at yikaileau.w@lead4earth.org
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