SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A stunning new twist surrounding that massive data center proposal across from Parkland High School in South Whitehall Township.
69 News has confirmed a senior manager for the developer Scannell Properties is no longer with the company following texts he made at last week’s township meeting on the proposal.
“They talk about being community partners, and they talk about how they’re concerned about their relationships. But in the background, you can see the actual attitude when it’s when it’s unfiltered,” said Greg Sussman, a South Whitehall Township resident involved with the South Whitehall Civic Alliance. “When the mask is is pulled away, this is the way they think about us.”
Those text messages also referred to attempts to involve state legislators and local business leaders.
Sussman says the messages revealed what the developer was not saying publicly.
They were sent during last week’s township planning commission meeting by now former senior development manager for Scannell Properties, David Salinas.
Data center developer touts economic benefits of proposed ‘Atlas’ campus; South Whitehall community pushes back
Scannell Properties is the company behind the proposed 5-building Atlas Data Center on 400 acres.
Township residents photographed the messages and posted online.
Due to how they were obtained, 69 News isn’t showing the messages, but they do disparage township residents, in appearance and intelligence, and reference area developer Lou Pektor and Gov. Josh Shapiro to help push the project through.
Scannell Properties now says Salinas is no longer employed by the company or involved in the project.
In an email, the company said:
“The comments attributed to the individual in question were his own and do not reflect the values, positions, or approach of Scannell Properties.
He is no longer employed by Scannell Properties or involved in the project. Scannell remains committed to respectful, factual, and constructive engagement with the South Whitehall community.”
South Whitehall Township did not comment on the incident. 69 News reached out to the employee for a statement but have not heard back.
The data center proposed between Mauch Chunk Road and North Cedar Crest across the street from Parkland High School has ignited fierce community opposition.
Sussman’s non-profit South Whitehall Civic Alliance is preparing to challenge the project in court.
But he says the developers’ presentation last week concerned him even more than private messages.
“From a technical perspective, I thought they were they were woefully unprepared, and I think that that reflects how ultimately I think they’re going to handle the project,” Sussman said.
Sen. Lisa Boscola’s office says that Boscola has not heard anything about the messages.