Texas Developer Pitches Multibillion-Dollar Data Center Campus in Archbald

Provident Realty Advisors seeks approval for up to 18 data centers that could generate millions in annual tax revenue for local governments.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A Texas-based developer, Provident Realty Advisors, has proposed building a multibillion-dollar data center campus in Archbald, Pennsylvania, just north of Staback Park. The project would include up to 18 two-story data centers, each up to 90 feet tall with a 154,850-square-foot footprint across about 400 acres. Provident representatives touted the potential for tens of millions in annual tax revenue for the borough, county, and school district if the project is approved. However, the proposal has faced community concerns, leading to a public hearing where Provident addressed questions about the project's necessity, benefits, and potential impacts.

Why it matters

The proposed data center campus is one of six such projects being considered in Archbald, highlighting the growing demand for data infrastructure to support the digital economy. While the developer touts the potential tax revenue, residents have raised concerns about the project's proximity to a school and park, as well as its potential impacts on the community. The outcome of this proposal could set a precedent for how Archbald and other communities approach the siting of large-scale data center developments.

The details

Provident Realty Advisors, a Dallas, Texas-based firm, has applied for conditional use approval to build the data center campus. The project would include up to 18 two-story data centers, each up to 90 feet tall with a 154,850-square-foot footprint. The campus would be located on about 400 acres between Business Route 6 and Eynon Jermyn Road, just north of Staback Park. Provident representatives stated that the data centers would generate around $20 million annually in property taxes for Archbald, nearly $50 million annually for Lackawanna County, and nearly $100 million per year for the Valley View School District. However, the project has faced community concerns, leading to a public hearing where Provident addressed questions about the project's necessity, benefits, and potential impacts.

  • The public hearing was held on February 11, 2026.
  • The hearing will resume on March 19, 2026 at 5 p.m.

The players

Provident Realty Advisors

A Texas-based real estate firm that is proposing the multibillion-dollar data center campus in Archbald.

Archbald I LLC

A subsidiary of Provident Realty Advisors that submitted the conditional use application for the data center project.

Jeffrey Esch McCombie

The Harrisburg attorney representing Provident Realty Advisors and Archbald I LLC in the public hearing.

Nick Farris

The director of acquisitions and director of data center development at Provident Realty Advisors, who testified at the public hearing.

Tamara Misewicz-Healey

A resident who formed the 'Stop Archbald Data Centers' Facebook group and became a party to the Archbald I LLC hearing, allowing her to cross-examine witnesses.

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What they’re saying

“Data centers are basically the backbone or brains of the internet. In our connected digital world now, especially with cloud computing, anything that we really do in this world runs through data centers.”

— Nick Farris, Director of Acquisitions and Director of Data Center Development, Provident Realty Advisors (thetimes-tribune.com)

“Generally, it's a boon, and that's why so many communities have always tried to attract the data centers.”

— Nick Farris, Director of Acquisitions and Director of Data Center Development, Provident Realty Advisors (thetimes-tribune.com)

“Data centers are coming. We rely on data centers for our everyday needs. ... They're a necessity in life, and the decision has to come down to, 'Do you want to benefit from that necessity?'”

— Nick Farris, Director of Acquisitions and Director of Data Center Development, Provident Realty Advisors (thetimes-tribune.com)

What’s next

The public hearing will resume on March 19, 2026 at 5 p.m., where Provident will present testimony from its data center engineer, a traffic engineer, and a sound and noise consultant. Residents will also have the opportunity to testify before the borough council votes on the conditional use application.

The takeaway

The proposed data center campus in Archbald highlights the growing demand for data infrastructure to support the digital economy, but also the challenges communities face in balancing the potential economic benefits with concerns about the projects' impacts on the local community. The outcome of this proposal could set a precedent for how Archbald and other communities approach the siting of large-scale data center developments.