Live Feeds
● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 11 sources tracked

Exclusive: San Francisco’s shuttered downtown mall is being eyed for an AI data center

San Francisco's shuttered downtown mall, the San Francisco Centre, is being explored for a potential conversion into an artificial intelligence data center, AI lab, exhibit, and offices. Maryland-based financial advisory firm KG Growth Partners inquired about a permit for the data center at the vacant shopping hub. However, the proposal faces immediate pushback from Mayor Lurie and runs head-on into the city's new data center moratorium. Local sources suggest City Hall might not instantly rule out the project despite expected opposition.

🎙️

Listen to Live Briefing

Real-time synthesized voice briefing · Live Feeds Desk

⏱ ~3 min
Speed:
RSS Source map (11)
⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
Text size:
  • ✓ San Francisco's shuttered downtown mall is being eyed for an artificial intelligence data center conversion.
  • ✓ Maryland-based financial advisory firm KG Growth Partners inquired about a permit for a data center at the Centre mall.
  • ✓ The proposal to turn the abandoned mall into a data center faces pushback from Mayor Lurie.
  • ✓ The proposal runs head-on into the city's new data center moratorium.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 11 independent reporting domains (90% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

KG Growth Partners inquired about a permit to turn the abandoned downtown shopping hub into a data center.

Live updates

  1. SF Shuttered Mall Eyed For AI Data Center

    San Francisco's shuttered downtown mall, the San Francisco Centre, is being explored for a potential conversion into an artificial intelligence data center, AI lab, exhibit, and offices. Maryland-based financial advisory firm KG Growth Partners inquired about a permit for the data center at the vacant shopping hub. However, the proposal faces immediate pushback from Mayor Lurie and runs head-on into the city's new data center moratorium. Local sources suggest City Hall might not instantly rule out the project despite expected opposition.

    Why it matters

    The closed downtown shopping center previously served as a prominent symbol for San Francisco urban decline. Repurposing the large vacant space touches on broader economic questions facing the city's downtown commercial real estate sector. Proposals involving artificial intelligence infrastructure frequently trigger intense regulatory and political debates regarding municipal land use.

    What is confirmed

    • San Francisco's shuttered downtown mall is being eyed for an artificial intelligence data center conversion.
    • Maryland-based financial advisory firm KG Growth Partners inquired about a permit for a data center at the Centre mall.
    • The proposal to turn the abandoned mall into a data center faces pushback from Mayor Lurie.
    • The proposal runs head-on into the city's new data center moratorium.

    Still unconfirmed

    • City Hall might not immediately rule out a data center at the mothballed mall despite expected opposition.

    What to watch next

    • Further official statements or actions from Mayor Lurie regarding the data center moratorium and the mall proposal.
    • Formal permit filings or development plans submitted by KG Growth Partners to San Francisco officials.
    Sources used for this update (11)
    1. www.sandiegouniontribune.com — San Diego Union-Tribune
    2. San Francisco Chronicle — Exclusive: San Francisco’s shuttered downtown mall is being eyed for an AI data center
    3. KRON4 — Vacant SF mall could house data center, AI exhibit, and offices
    4. NBC Bay Area — Proposal to turn abandoned SF Centre mall into data center and AI lab faces pushback from Mayor Lurie
    5. Institutional Real Estate, Inc. — Former San Francisco mall eyed for AI data center conversion
    6. Connect CRE — Shuttered San Francisco Centre Eyed for Data Center Project
    7. www.yahoo.com — Exclusive: San Francisco's shuttered downtown mall is being ...
    8. www.nbcbayarea.com — Proposal to turn abandoned SF Centre mall into data center ...
    9. www.theguardian.com — This mall was a symbol for San Francisco’s ‘doom loop’. Now ...
    10. abc7news.com — Closed downtown San Francisco Centre mall could be turned ...
    11. nypost.com — Closed San Francisco mall could become massive AI data center
    confidence 90%
📊

Community Sentiment: How do you assess this situation?

Voice your perspective · Real-time aggregated sentiment from the Live Feeds community