A plan to redevelop the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital site in East Vincent Township into a large-scale data center is meeting resistance from nearby residents, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Megan Heiken, who recently purchased a home near the site, recently launched an online petition, urging her neighbors and local officials to “work together toward a solution that preserves the Pennhurst property, honors its history, and protects the environment and quality of life for all who live, work, and visit here.” 

As of Monday, the petition had 3,063 signatures. 

“I made this move to be out in an area with more space, more nature,” said Heiken. “The fact that the owner just wants to plow it over and swap in a data center is kind of alarming.” 

Heiken’s sentiment appears to be shared by most residents, as shown at the lengthy public meetings in East Vincent hosted by the board of supervisors and planning commission, where residents from Spring City to Pottstown expressed their objections. 

The pushback from residents comes as both President Donald Trump and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro are advocating for more data center development. 

Read more about the owner possibly wanting to turn the Pennhurst property into a data center in The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

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