Apr 26, 2025 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
A homeless encampment in San José, California, has been cleared this week to make way for the construction of a Microsoft data center. The company bought a 64-acre site next to the road in 2017 for $73.2 million, and revealed plans to build a campus with two data center buildings. This was granted planning permission earlier this month, meaning the company now wants to gain access to the site.
Lynn Shipman, who previously lived at Alviso-Milpitas Road but has since found housing, said it was once home to 70 people living in tents and RVs. “People are fearful. They don’t know where else to go,” said Shipman, who has been helping those impacted by the news.
San Jose council member David Cohen, who represents the area, said: “As difficult and heartbreaking as this situation is, the city of San Jose cannot legally deny a private property owner access to their land.”
