Immediate Construction Injunction Sought In Jefferson County As Heavy AI Facility Grading Crews Begin Clearing Land

Bulldozers cutting through Oxmoor Valley have ignited a legal fight over whether one of Alabama’s largest artificial intelligence ventures should rise beside quiet residential streets.

Madelyn Greene and David Butler filed a class action case May 13 in Jefferson County Circuit Court against Nebius and city officials, according to WVTM 13, arguing leaders approved the nearly 80 acre plan near Milan Parkway and Venice Road without legally required public hearings.

Developers intend to construct the Birmingham AI Factory, a 300 megawatt computing hub planned for the former Regions Bank operations grounds. Plaintiffs contend mixed use regulations prohibit hyperscale digital infrastructure in that section of the city.

Attorneys representing nearby households also argue grandfathered protections disappeared after demolition crews removed the former Regions building. Existing land use standards, they say, should now govern additional construction tied to the grounds.

Separate objections focus on an electrical substation and switching station expected to supply energy for the hub. Lawyers involved in the case argue both requests failed to secure enough support during a March session before the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Frustration has spread through nearby subdivisions as families question how nonstop machinery, brighter nighttime lighting, heavier traffic, and expanding utility systems could reshape daily routines. Some households fear years of industrial activity could weaken home prices and permanently alter the quieter setting that attracted many people to the area.

Joey Amberson, president of the Oxmoor Glen subdivision board, publicly opposed the plan during earlier meetings connected to the fight. People living nearby have consistently argued a sprawling computing site does not belong beside established homes.

Company representatives defended the effort after earlier zoning disagreements, saying the expansion would create jobs, increase tax revenue, and strengthen the regional technology economy. Officials also stated upgraded equipment and a dedicated switchyard would help prevent service interruptions for Alabama Power customers.

Filings tied to the case claim the planned hub could consume more than double the amount of electricity local households use annually. Developers dispute assertions involving strain on the regional power grid.

Land clearing has already begun while proceedings continue in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Plaintiffs are seeking an order preventing additional construction until a judge issues a final decision.

Officials have offered limited public comment because litigation remains active. Leaders previously approved a temporary pause involving future data processing applications, though the proposal remained exempt because paperwork arrived before restrictions took effect.

A judge must now decide whether rapid artificial intelligence expansion should continue moving deeper into Oxmoor Valley despite resistance from families already living beside the construction zone.