A $9 billion quantum computing campus planned for Chicago’s South Side is facing fierce opposition from residents, culminating in a tense town hall meeting at Arnold Mireles Academy, 9000 S. Exchange Ave. Saturday. Attendees at the event chanted “Reverse the permits. Mayor Johnson, do it now,” as they voiced concerns about the project’s impact on environmental justice and public health. Following the exchange, Southside Together member Lia Terrell stated, “The reality is that we don’t have the mayor’s support,” moments before Mayor Brandon Johnson departed the event amid jeers from the crowd.

Southside Together Challenges Johnson Over $9 Billion Quantum Shore

On Exchange Ave., community group Southside Together demanded Mayor Brandon Johnson reverse permits for the project. Despite assurances regarding environmental regulations and a recent executive order concerning data centers, the mayor encountered vocal opposition from residents concerned about the impact of the large-scale quantum computing campus on their community.

Johnson’s presentation of his values, that “innovation cannot take place at the expense of environmental justice”, failed to quell the rising discontent within the room. Following Johnson’s remarks, Lia Terrell, a member of Southside Together, publicly voiced the group’s lack of confidence in the mayor’s commitment to their concerns immediately preceding his departure from the event.

She further asserted, “The data center executive order is not the same thing as stopping the quantum facility, which means he doesn’t support the needs of the people in the community, and he doesn’t respect the needs of Chicago as a whole. He’s chosen to stand on the side of military-backed billionaires.” This exit was met with jeers and boos from attendees, demonstrating a clear breakdown in communication and escalating tensions.

Southside Together is not solely focused on protesting; the organization has outlined specific demands, including the revocation of existing permits and a commitment to withhold future approvals for the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. They also seek the removal of a City Council-approved tax rebate and the rescinding of $5 million in city funding allocated to the project.

Reneé Redmond, a 67-year-old South Chicago resident, articulated a vision for alternative community investments, suggesting expansion of Advocate Trinity Hospital with a maternity ward and trauma center, alongside increased green spaces and local businesses. “This facility threatens our peace… That is why I organize… Our vision for the community matters.” Despite the contentious atmosphere, Tifanity Moore, another Southside Together member, expressed optimism, stating, “I know we still have a long fight ahead of us, but to get the people in here, to see everybody motivated and ready to fight with us, just gave us another boost.

It’s a great feeling. It was touching, actually.” The group plans to continue its advocacy, including a rally scheduled for 1 p.m. at 91st Street and Commercial Ave., signaling a sustained effort to halt the development regardless of the mayor’s position.

I think we came into it with a mindset of not expecting a lot in the way of the mayor necessarily agreeing with what we’re looking for, what we want as a community.
Lia Terrell, Southside Together Member

Related Midwest Leads Development of 128-Acre Quantum Computing Campus

Related Midwest spearheads the construction of a 128-acre campus dedicated to quantum computing research within the broader Quantum Shore Chicago development in South Chicago. Announced last March, Related Digital intends to build a hyperscale data center for artificial intelligence and cloud computing at the north end of the site, a component of the larger $9 billion project.

This ambitious undertaking draws participation from private companies like PsiQuantum, IBM, and Infleqtion, alongside the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and multiple Illinois universities, all focused on validating the potential of quantum computing and developing practical applications. The scale of investment has not been universally welcomed; local leaders approved $500 million in state funding and an estimated $175 million in county tax breaks over 30 years for the project, with an additional $5 million pledged by the city from its housing and economic development bond program.

Quantum Shore Receives $500 Million in Public Funding & Support

Southside Together, a community advocacy organization, views this financial commitment as misdirected, arguing that resources would be better allocated to community-identified needs. The contentious development has prompted sustained protest, with Southside Together urging Mayor Johnson to revoke existing permits and withhold future approvals.

Following a heated town hall at Arnold Mireles Academy, where attendees chanted “Reverse the permits,” Terrell further explained, “But our organizing is for the people and directly aligns with what the interests of the community are, so with or without the mayor, we’re going to do what we need to do to get this facility shut down.”

Here are my values: That innovation cannot take place at the expense of environmental justice, that… development cannot happen at the expense of utilities and working people, and that private investment cannot happen at the expense of our overall public health.
Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

Related Midwest’s plans for the $9 billion Quantum Shore development are bolstered by $500 million in public funding, a commitment that continues to draw criticism from community groups despite promises of economic benefit. Mayor Brandon Johnson has also pledged $5 million from the city’s housing and economic development bond program to the project, intended to establish a leading quantum computing research hub on Chicago’s South Side.

Despite these assurances, Southside Together remains resolute in its opposition, planning a rally at 1 p.m. at 91st Street and Commercial Ave. to maintain pressure on city officials and advocate for community-led development initiatives. Community member Tifanity Moore expressed optimism, stating that the group’s continued advocacy will be essential to achieving their goals.