Town leaders in Eatonville, Florida, voiced sharp frustration Tuesday over the stalled construction of a Tier Four data center being built by HostDime. The project, which began in 2021 after a developer agreement was signed in 2016, was originally slated for completion in July 2025. As of the latest council meeting, the center remains unfinished and the developer owes $99,250 in accrued daily fines.
Council pushes for stronger enforcement
“I’ve yet to get a phone call, I’ve yet to get any correspondence indicating that you want to work with the town of Eatonville. It’s like a slap in the face,” said Councilmember Tarus Mack, echoing the sentiment of several colleagues. Mack and other council members urged HostDime CEO Manny Vivar to attend future meetings and provide regular updates, a request the CEO declined, noting that attendance was never part of the developer agreement.
During the session, Mack proposed raising the daily fine from $250 to $500 to incentivize faster completion. The council ultimately tabled the fine increase, opting instead to consult with municipal attorneys about possible contract amendments and other remedies.
Developer cites unprecedented challenges
Vivar later gave WESH 2 a site tour and explained why the project has lagged. “This is not a typical project,” he said. “There are only five Tier Four data centers in the entire United States.” He cited contractor availability, supply‑chain disruptions, inflation, and lingering effects of the pandemic as primary contributors to the delay.
While acknowledging the setbacks, Vivar maintained that HostDime is not contractually obligated to appear at council meetings. He added that the company had already briefed council members two weeks prior and had little new information to share.
Community concerns add pressure
Residents have raised additional worries about the center’s impact on neighborhood quality of life. Noise complaints and questions about the facility’s water supply have surfaced, prompting councilors to demand a thorough contract review before any further decisions are made.
Despite the challenges, Vivar expressed optimism about the timeline, stating the data center should be finished by the end of the month and, at the latest, by year’s end. The council scheduled another public workshop for Thursday to continue the dialogue.
What this means for Eatonville
The data center promises to bring high‑speed connectivity and jobs to the region, but the prolonged delay threatens to stall those economic benefits. By holding the developer accountable through fines and potential contract revisions, Eatonville officials aim to protect both the town’s fiscal interests and the well‑being of its residents.
As the town moves forward with legal counsel, the community watches closely, hoping the project will finally break ground on its promised timeline and deliver the promised boost to local infrastructure and employment.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
