November 14, 2024
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Photos: Construction ramps up for Facebook Data Center in DeKalb

9-month check in shows progress as social media giant, candy company continue construction on DeKalb’s south side

By Scott Anderson
Building construction continues Wednesday March 3, at the Facebook property on the South side of Gurler Road in DeKalb. On June 30th last year, the City of DeKalb announced that the social media giant will invest $800 million into a 907,000-square-foot facility. When completed, the Facebook DeKalb Data Center will be the 12th facility in the United States.

Building construction continues Wednesday March 3, at the Facebook property on the South side of Gurler Road in DeKalb. On June 30th last year, the City of DeKalb announced that the social media giant will invest $800 million into a 907,000-square-foot facility. When completed, the Facebook DeKalb Data Center will be the 12th facility in the United States. (Scott Anderson)

DeKALB - Since the Daily Chronicle last checked in on the Facebook Data Center with Shaw Media Local News Network’s Scott Anderson in August, new aerial drone footage shows progress made in the seven months since.

Shaw Media’s licensed drone pilot Scott Anderson obtained permission from the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport to do some photos over the location March 3, 2021.

It’s been nine months since the social media giant Facebook announced in June of 2020 it would invest $800 million into a 907,000-square-foot facility, the 12th to be built in the United States.

Founded in 2004, the world’s largest social network is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, employs more than 48,000 people across the world, and operates data centers in: Iowa, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Oregon, New Mexico, Ohio, Utah, Nebraska, Alabama, Georgia, Denmark, Singapore, Ireland and Sweden.

At the project’s peak, Facebook officials estimate the site constriction will employ 1,200 construction and trade workers which will span the two to three years it will take to get the first building up and running. For data center jobs – which could start at $38.50 per hour according to city documents – Facebook plans to hire technicians, engineers, construction management, facility managers, logistics professors and security personnel. Check out the full gallery here: https://www.shawlocal.com/gallery/2021/03/05/photos-construction-ramps-up-at-facebook-dekalb-data-center-site/

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Building construction continues Wednesday March 3, at the Facebook property on the South side of Gurler Road in DeKalb. On June 30th last year, the City of DeKalb announced that the social media giant will invest $800 million into a 907,000-square-foot facility. When completed, the Facebook DeKalb Data Center will be the 12th facility in the United States.

Building construction continues Wednesday March 3, at the Facebook property on the South side of Gurler Road in DeKalb. On June 30th last year, the City of Dekalb announced that the social media giant will invest $800 million into a 907,000-square-foot facility. When completed, the Facebook DeKalb Data Center will be the 12th facility in the United States. (Scott Anderson)

The development also comes with tax abatement provisions attached, per intergovernmental agreements signed by countywide taxing bodies over a period of a few months this spring.

The Facebook data center will be privy to a 20-year, 55% property tax abatement plan, already approved by the council and agreed upon through the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone, a program administered by the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, with a stipulation of 50 tech jobs with a starting wage of $38.50 an hour to qualify for tax abatements within the first few years, documents show.

Over the next 20 years, city officials have said the data center is projected to yield tax revenue for the participating taxing bodies, even with the tax abatements, that is comparable to the five largest existing industrial companies in DeKalb (Target distribution, 3M, Panduit, Nestle, Goodyear) combined, documents show.

Minnesota-based Mortenson Construction is the general contractor for the project. Facebook is also partnering with the city, Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District to design the site, and Krusinski Construction Company to build and provide support for infrastructure, which will include nearly three miles of water lines, one and a half miles of sewer extension and repaving local roads.

As part of ongoing construction for Ferrara’s site along with Facebook’s, Gurler Road is also undergoing a road widening project, paid in part through funds secured by the Illinois Department of Transportation.




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