By J. Graber | Daily Independent (abridged)
While no formal applications have been made with the city, one Valley developer has spoken to one city council member about putting a data center in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale City Councilwoman Solange Whitehead said someone from Baker Development — a Chicago firm with its headquarters in Scottsdale — approached her at an event about possibly building a center in Scottsdale.
No details where discussed before she shut the conversation down, Whitehead said.
Data centers are inherently controversial because of the noise they emit and the amount of water they use.
Baker Development CEO Warren Baker donated $1,000 to Whitehead’s campaign for another term on city council — which she won outright in the July primary — and the company’s president and COO Daniel Slack donated another $2,500, but Whitehead returned both checks.
“They have a big data center proposed for Scottsdale and I chose not to take campaign donations from them,” Whitehead said. “I will evaluate their project fairly but, to me, (accepting money from Baker Development) appears to be a conflict.”
Neither Baker nor Slack have responded to repeated requests for comments.
Baker Development was founded in 1985 and its website says it has a “track record of success in executing complex development strategies.”
The company lists the 47-acre General Dynamics site, located at 8201 E. McDowell Road, on its project page, though the Maricopa County Assessor’s website shows General Dynamics still owns the property.
The sight is zoned industrial and Baker Development lists it as a site suitable for headquarters, manufacturing, logistics or warehouses.
Other developments in the Valley listed on the company’s project page include the Azul property, a 72-acre office space development in central Phoenix, and VB | 143, a two-floor warehouse and distribution center on 24 acres in Goodyear.
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