Ten years after construction began on HostDime’s multi‑story data center along Interstate 4, the facility is still not operational, leaving Eatonville residents and business owners uneasy about its impact and the promises made by the developer.
Mayor and council seek accountability
Eatonville Mayor Ruthie Critton told the town council that the community’s primary concern is a finished project that minimizes disruption. “I think the temperament is really just to see a completed project and to make sure that there are minimal impacts,” she said, expressing optimism that the center could eventually bring benefits.
Long‑time business owner Chad McKendrick, who has operated in Eatonville for three decades, warned that the town feels misled. “We’re really under false pretense now,” he said, noting that the original plan promised local jobs that have not materialized.
Shift to artificial intelligence raises job concerns
The project, originally approved as a standard computer data center, is now being marketed as an artificial intelligence (AI) site. McKendrick argued that the shift has altered the employment outlook. “I understand we do change plans. However, with the town of Eatonville, the whole concept was that they would give them jobs. Now that’s not happening because of AI,” he explained.
Environmental and resource worries
Residents voiced broader concerns about power and water usage. “They try to explain that away about the environment, but we know they’re going to be using a lot of power, a lot of water,” McKendrick said. Other locals, who declined to be filmed, echoed fears about noise, resource consumption, and the overall effect on the neighborhood.
HostDime’s response
At a September 15 council meeting, HostDime founder and CEO Manny Vivar addressed the issues but did not give a firm opening date. “I will say it’ll be done when it’s done, but it’s priority,” Vivar remarked.
Vivar highlighted a closed‑loop water‑recycling system and cited the company’s other Eatonville site, which has kept its water bill under $500 per month since 2008. He also mentioned a pre‑negotiated agreement with Duke Energy to feed power back to the grid during emergencies and assured council members that there is no risk to the nearby elementary school.
Unfulfilled Wi‑Fi promise
Council member Tarus Mack recalled a verbal promise from HostDime to provide free Wi‑Fi to the community, noting the lack of a written agreement. Vivar responded, “Me offering that up came from a pure heart. Do I regret saying it the way I said? Probably because there was no technicality behind it.” A public‑records request for any written Wi‑Fi agreement returned a response that “such record could not be located.”
Fines mounting
HostDime faces a penalty of $250 for each day it misses its deadline. Mayor Critton said the accumulated fines, estimated between $90,000 and $100,000, must be paid before the facility can open. “Before they can open the doors and cut the ribbon, those fines will have to be paid,” she stated.
Looking ahead
After a decade of waiting, Eatonville continues to seek answers on job creation, environmental safeguards, and the fulfillment of promises made to the community. As the town council monitors HostDime’s progress, residents remain hopeful that the long‑delayed project will finally deliver the benefits originally advertised.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
