QUICK SUMMARY
Brookwood’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday, August 11 to recommend annexing and rezoning 374 acres along Brookwood Parkway for a proposed “Data Center Campus” — a project entirely separate from the 2-million-square-foot Applied Digital proposal revealed the week before. The petitioner, Project Brookwood LLC, is acting on behalf of New York developer Youngwoo & Associates, which already owns 200 acres across from Brookwood Middle School. The Brookwood City Council holds the final vote on September 15 at 4:30 p.m. If both projects move forward, eastern Tuscaloosa County could see two major data-center campuses at once — with real implications for land demand, infrastructure and home values.
What did Brookwood’s Planning and Zoning Commission approve?
As first reported by the Tuscaloosa Thread, the commission recommended that 374 acres be annexed into Brookwood’s city limits and rezoned from default single-family residential to M1 light industrial. The rezoning petition, filed by Project Brookwood LLC, states explicitly that the goal is to build a “Data Center Campus” on the land. Because the property has never been zoned, it would come into the city as residential by default unless the council approves the industrial classification — the same one Brookwood has applied to other tracts annexed along Brookwood Parkway.
The vote came after a packed, roughly hourlong meeting in which residents pressed officials for details about what would actually be built. The three commission members present, along with Mayor Joe Barger, voted unanimously to recommend approval. The recommendation is not final — it now goes to the Brookwood City Council.
Who is behind the second Brookwood data center?
The petitioner is a newly formed company, Project Brookwood LLC, acting on behalf of Youngwoo & Associates, a New York real estate developer whose portfolio includes data-center development. County GIS records show the LLC already owns 200 acres on Brookwood Parkway, directly across from Brookwood Middle School. A separate entity, ALAWEST-AL LLC, owns 680 adjoining acres, and the rezoning petition lists 374 of those acres as currently under contract to be sold, annexed and rezoned for the project.
At the meeting, an attorney speaking for the developer said only that the group was acquiring property “for a variety of uses, none of which have been set in stone yet” — though the written application itself names a data-center campus.
Own land or a home near Brookwood, Vance or Cottondale? Industrial development can change what your property is worth. Get a free, no-obligation home valuation or call/text us at 205-292-2108.
How is this different from the Applied Digital project?
They are two entirely separate proposals, by different developers, on different land — a point Brookwood’s city engineer confirmed directly at the meeting. The Applied Digital project is a proposed 2-million-square-foot data center on roughly 1,300 acres that the Tuscaloosa Thread uncovered through a state environmental permit. The Youngwoo site sits just to the west of that land. Taken together, the two projects mean Brookwood — a town best known for coal mining and quiet acreage along Highway 216 — is suddenly weighing two of the largest industrial developments in Tuscaloosa County’s recent history at the same time.
What could two data-center campuses mean for East Tuscaloosa County property owners?
It is early — no site plans, utilities agreements or construction timelines have been made public for either project. But some effects tend to follow large data-center announcements wherever they land:
1. Land near industrial corridors gets more valuable. Developers assembled more than 1,800 combined acres in the area before most residents heard a word. Owners of acreage along Brookwood Parkway and Highway 216 may find themselves fielding offers — and should know what their land is actually worth before answering one. Our land and lot sellers page covers how to handle unsolicited interest.
2. Construction and operations bring jobs and demand for housing. Large projects typically mean hundreds of construction workers for years, plus permanent technical staff — many of whom will look for homes in Cottondale, Vance and the eastern side of Tuscaloosa County.
3. Neighbors will have questions about noise, water and power. Data centers are quiet compared to heavy industry, but they draw significant electricity and water for cooling, and residents at the meeting raised exactly those concerns. The answers will come through the public process — which is why the September 15 vote matters.
4. School and infrastructure decisions may follow. The Youngwoo land sits directly across from Brookwood Middle School, and the mayor has said the school is outdated, overcrowded and may eventually need to move as industry grows. Families weighing a move to the area should watch how that conversation develops.
What happens next, and how can residents weigh in?
The Brookwood City Council holds final authority over the annexation and rezoning and is scheduled to vote on Monday, September 15 at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday’s meeting showed that residents want more transparency before the land is rezoned, and the council meeting is the next — and likely last — formal opportunity for public comment before a decision. If you live in or near Brookwood, showing up is the most direct way to be heard.
We will keep following both data-center proposals and what they mean for property owners across eastern Tuscaloosa County.
Frequently asked questions about the Brookwood data centers
Where would the second Brookwood data center be built?
On 374 acres along Brookwood Parkway in eastern Tuscaloosa County, adjoining 200 acres the developer already owns across from Brookwood Middle School. The land would be annexed into Brookwood city limits and rezoned to M1 light industrial if the City Council approves.
Is this the same as the Applied Digital data center?
No. The Applied Digital proposal is a separate 2-million-square-foot project planned by a different developer on roughly 1,300 acres just to the east. Brookwood is currently considering both projects independently.
When is the final vote on the Brookwood rezoning?
The Brookwood City Council is scheduled to vote on the annexation and rezoning on September 15, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. The Planning and Zoning Commission’s August 11 vote was a recommendation only.
I own land near Brookwood Parkway. What should I do?
Get an accurate, current valuation before responding to any offer. Land values can move quickly once industrial projects are announced, and an unsolicited offer is rarely the top of the market. A local agent who tracks these projects can tell you what comparable tracts are actually selling for.
Wondering what growth means for your property?
Whether you own a home in Cottondale, acreage near Brookwood or you’re watching the eastern county grow, we can tell you exactly what it means for your bottom line.
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