US tech giant Google has taken significant steps toward launching a long-planned data center in Kronstorf, located in the Linz-Land district of Upper Austria. According to an online report by ORF Oberösterreich on Saturday, the company has submitted a concrete project proposal to local building and commercial authorities. A construction permit could be issued as early as this year. Kronstorf Mayor Christian Kolarik (ÖVP) said he expects further progress in the coming months.
Google originally secured a 70-hectare site in Kronstorf back in 2008 for a planned data center. However, the company later changed its plans and failed to meet its contractually obligated construction timeline. As a result, a partial reversal of the land sale was initiated by the regional INKOBA association (Intermunicipal Business Development) and the Upper Austrian business agency Business Upper Austria. Under the new agreement, Google retained 50 hectares, while the remaining 20 hectares were repurchased.
dm Drugstore Chain Becomes Neighbor
In fall 2024, a tenant was found for nearly half of the repurchased 20 hectares along the B309 road: the drugstore chain dm. A special land-use agreement was reached, granting building rights under specific conditions. According to the mayors of Hargelsberg, Christoph Lichtenauer, and Kronstorf, Christian Kolarik (both ÖVP), the arrangement ensures “long-term public oversight” as opposed to a full land sale. The new dm distribution center is currently under construction and is expected to be completed within two years.
ORF Oberösterreich reported that excavators are now active on the portion of the property reserved for Google, preparing the site for the large-scale data center. A formal construction start date has not yet been announced by the company.
