Nexstar / WGN transmitter site data center campus
Planned data center campus with a substation on about 35 acres of the WGN radio transmitter property, approved by the village in 2023 and still awaiting power. Also known as: 720 Rohlwing Road.
Who is behind it
The record, newest first
Neighbors spoke against the plan; the mayor argued a truck depot would be a worse use of the site. (Daily Herald, Aug. 14, 2026)
The village board extended the deadline to start the first building to Sept. 30, 2027. (Daily Herald, Aug. 14, 2026)
The mayor described a four-building plan delayed while ComEd extends power to the site. (Daily Herald, April 10, 2025)
The village and Nexstar entered the development agreement. (Daily Herald, Aug. 14, 2026)
The village board gave preliminary approval to annexation, rezoning and a special use permit for three data center buildings of about 840,000 sq ft plus a future substation, with final approval set for July 18. (Daily Herald, June 21, 2023)
Conflicts and open questions
- Building count reported as three (2023) and up to four (2025-2026).
- No data center operator has been announced.
- Coordinates approximate, from the street address.
- The transmitter property is given as 100 acres (2023) and 102 acres (2025). DatacenterDynamics dated the preliminary approval June 5, 2023; the Daily Herald reported it the night before its June 21 story.
- The January 2026 extension date is inferred from an August 2026 article that says 'January'.
The full record
- Status note
- Approved in 2023; delayed by power delivery, with the start deadline for the first building extended to Sept. 30, 2027. Neighbors voiced opposition in 2026.
- Power note
- No capacity published.
- Evidence
- News reports; primary records not yet obtained
- Size class
- 50 MW or more (tracker scope)