Data center profile · Patterson Avenue SE and 76th Street SE, Gaines Charter Township, Kent County, Michigan

Microsoft Gaines Township

Microsoft's proposed data center on land it assembled along Patterson Avenue in Gaines Township, Michigan; rezoning tabled since April 2026 and project reported on hold.

Rezoning tabled, on hold. The township planning commission tabled the rezoning 7-0 on Apr. 15, 2026, and no later rezoning decision has been found. A Microsoft-funded noise study approved Aug. 10 is the latest township action, and press reports the project on hold.
$45.3M
paid for the first 316 acres from Steelcase in Oct. 2024 (press)
holdings later reported at 356 acres; a 436-acre site is also cited
~104 acres
in the five parcels covered by the rezoning request
township notice; the commission tabled it Apr. 15, 2026
7-0
planning commission vote to table the rezoning
nearly 600 attended; 67 spoke
MW not disclosed
no capacity figure in any filing or press
OperatorMicrosoft
CustomerMicrosoft
Next stepRezoning still tabled; a second baseline noise study is planned for mid-winter
Permits

Permits checklist

1 pending · 2 checked, nothing on file

Approvals a campus like this normally needs, and what we found.

Risks

Why it stopped, what could revive it

Power

Power and the grid

Sources on record, size not disclosed
Backup generators (emergency use, not a power supply)

Getting on the grid

Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.

  1. As of Oct. 2026
    No state utility case
    No Michigan Public Service Commission case names a Consumers Energy contract for the campus; the project is stalled at township rezoning. Dataset · Oct. 2026
Money

Money on record

$45.3M
Steelcase land purchase, Oct. 2024 (press)
316 acres News report · Oct. 2024
$5,677
baseline noise survey, paid from a Microsoft escrow with the township
approved 7-0 on Aug. 10, 2026 News report · Aug. 2026
Timeline

What happened, and what is due

SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
  1. Oct. 2024
    Site Microsoft buys 316 acres at Patterson Avenue and 76th Street from Steelcase for $45.3 million (press) News report · Oct. 2024
  2. Dec. 18, 2025
    Permits First rezoning hearing adjourns when turnout overwhelms the venue Dataset · April 2026
  3. April 15, 2026
    Permits Planning commission tables the rezoning 7-0 after a 5.5-hour hearing Local government · April 2026
  4. April 16, 2026
    Legal A resident appeals a records-fee decision and cites the township's nondisclosure agreement with Microsoft Local government · April 2026
  5. Aug. 10, 2026
    Construction Township trustees vote 7-0 to hire an acoustics firm for a baseline noise study, paid by Microsoft's escrow (press) News report · Aug. 2026
  6. Oct. 2026
    Site Press reports the project on hold for several weeks News report · Oct. 2026
The buildings

Specs

150 ft setbacks, 65 dB limit conditions Microsoft proposed for the rezoning (not an executed agreement). News report · April 2026

Who is involved

Owners, partners and builders

Owners and developers
  • Microsoft Corporation: applicant and land owner
  • Steelcase Inc.: seller of the first 316 acres
Decision-makers
  • Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission: tabled the rezoning
  • Gaines Charter Township Board: funded the noise study
  • Consumers Energy: identified power supplier
Still unknown

Open questions

Where this comes from

31 records from 11 documents

Drawn from news reports, local government records and public and commercial datasets, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.

News report 7Local government 4Dataset 1
Evidence

Every quote behind this page

Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.

Power (3)
  • A resident FOIA appeal heard by the Board on Apr. 16, 2026 disputes a $645.24 fee for records on the Microsoft rezoning and cites resident concern over the NDA signed between township officials and Microsoft; no project
    “residents are highly concerned about the transparency of this process, the NDA that was signed between Township officials and Microsoft, and how this entire request has been handled”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade B
  • No MW on any basis (mw it, mw utility, mw campus stated, mw generation onsite) is disclosed in the township filings, the hearing notice, the minutes or press found
    “That rezoning request - still pending - saw Microsoft confirming its plans to establish a data center at the site, though details about project timelines and scale remain sparse”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Microsoft's proposed conditional-rezoning commitments (PROPOSED conditions, not an executed agreement): no local property tax abatements; setbacks of at least 150 feet; approximately 9.5 acres donated for open space and
    “Not seek local property tax abatements from Gaines Township; Use setbacks of at least 150 feet from property lines; Improve and donate approximately 9.5 acres of land for open space and trail connections”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
Money and contracts (4)
  • Microsoft has established an escrow account with the township to cover all administrative and consulting expenses, per the Township Treasurer as reported Aug. 10, 2026; the baseline noise survey cost is $5,676.97
    “Microsoft has already established an escrow account with the township to cover all administrative and consulting expenses. The cost to perform the survey is $5,676.97”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • Aug 10, 2026: the Board of Trustees voted 7-0 to hire Memtech Acoustics for a baseline noise study (USD 5,676.97), paid from a Microsoft-funded escrow account the company established with the township for administrative
    “According to Township Treasurer Laurie Lemke, Microsoft has already established an escrow account with the township to cover all administrative and consulting expenses. The cost to perform the survey is $5,676.97.”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • Approximately 600 people attended the Apr 15, 2026 hearing with 67 public comments, the overwhelming majority opposed (press tally of the tabling vote: 7-0). Residents repeatedly demanded a one-year moratorium; no Gaines
    “On April 15, 2026, the Planning Commission voted 7-0 to table Microsoft's rezoning request after a 5.5-hour hearing with 67 public comments and nearly 600 attendees.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Oct 2024: Microsoft acquired 316 acres at Patterson Avenue and 76th Street from Steelcase Inc. for USD 45.3 million; holdings were later reported at 356 acres (including a 40.5-acre parcel from Republic National Distribu
    “The site, on the corner of Patterson Avenue and 76th Street, was acquired from furniture seller Steelcase Inc. for $45.3 million for a potential data center development.”
    News report · Oct. 2024 · grade C
Permits and government (9)
  • Residents asked the Planning Commission for a one-year moratorium at both the Apr. 15 hearing and the Apr. 23, 2026 meeting; no Gaines Township moratorium ordinance was found in force as of Oct. 2026
    “Tammy of 5140 N. Morgan Lane explained that she is not in support of the Microsoft project and is also asking for a one-year moratorium”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade B
  • The Microsoft rezoning remains pending: the Planning Commission tabled it on Apr. 15, 2026 and no later rezoning decision was found through Oct. 2026; no site plan has been filed, with building height detail deferred to
    “further detail will be provided during site plan review”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade B
  • Microsoft's application includes rezoning conditions covering sound, light, emissions, water use, decommissioning, screening and low vibrational sounds, stated to be enforceable by contract and zoning law
    “Mills stated that the application includes several rezoning conditions which will be enforceable by contract and zoning law”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade B
  • Apr 15, 2026: the Planning Commission tabled Microsoft's five-parcel conditional rezoning request (motion by Haagsma, supported by Wiersema) so Microsoft and township staff could answer commission concerns. Township staf
    “Motion by Haagsma, supported by Wiersema, to table the request for a conditional rezoning and allow Microsoft and Township staff to provide answers to concerns posed by the Planning Commission.”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade B
  • Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission:
    “Motion by Haagsma, supported by Wiersema, to table the request for a conditional rezoning and allow Microsoft and Township staff to provide answers to concerns posed by the Planning Commission”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade B
  • Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees:
    “At their Aug. 10 meeting, trustees voted 7-0 to hire Rochester Hills-based Memtech Acoustics to map out current baseline sound levels before any construction might begin”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • Microsoft's rezoning request (PUD/agricultural to light industrial for its Patte: Rezoning request TABLED 7-0 (April 15, 2026) after 5.5-hour hearing; project put on hold
    “On April 15, 2026, the Planning Commission voted 7-0 to table Microsoft's rezoning request after a 5.5-hour hearing with 67 public comments and nearly 600 attendees”
    Dataset · April 2026 · grade C
  • Contentious: nearly 600 people attended the five-and-a-half-hour Apr. 15, 2026 hearing and 67 spoke, the overwhelming majority opposed per press; residents also repeatedly requested a one-year moratorium, which was not a
    “On April 15, nearly 600 people out for a five-and-a-half-hour Gaines Planning Commission special meeting on April 15 in the South Christian High School auditorium. And 67 of them spoke during a public hearing”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Consumers Energy is the identified power supplier for Gaines Township, publicly associated with ratepayer-protection commitments ahead of the April 2026 hearing - but every state-level step (MPSC special contract or larg
    “5-point community plan: 150 ft setbacks, ≤65 dB, 9.5 acres donated open space; Consumers Energy to supply power with ratepayer protections”
    Dataset · April 2026 · grade C
Site and other (2)
  • Project status: proposed
    “Microsoft has proposed building the data center on a 436-acre site at 7147 Patterson Avenue, south of 68th Street.”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • County code: 26081
    “Crain's reports Microsoft has acquired 316 acres of property in Gaines Charter Township in Kent County, south of Grand Rapids.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C