A long-running dispute in Taylor, Texas, centers on a 1999 deed in which four members of the Cromwell family transferred a tract of land to the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation for $10, stipulating it be "held in the trust for future use as parkland." That restriction appears only in the original deed; subsequent transfers do not carry the explicit parkland requirement.
How the Property Changed Hands
County records show the parcel passed through several owners after the 1999 transfer. Key transactions include:
- Oct. 7, 2003: Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation sold the parcel to the Williamson County Park Foundation (deed referenced trust for Williamson County but did not restate the parkland purpose).
- Nov. 20, 2003: Williamson County Park Foundation conveyed the land to the City of Taylor for $10; no use restriction was recorded in this deed.
- Oct. 23, 2008: The City of Taylor sold the property to the Taylor Economic Development Corp. for $15,000.
- April 11, 2025: Taylor Economic Development Corp. sold the parcel to NCP Travis TPP Project LCC (the developer associated with Blueprint Data Centers); the city reported the sale price as $10 million.
Data Center Approval and Local Reaction
In 2024 the City of Taylor approved a plan by Blueprint Data Centers to build a 135,000-square-foot facility on the site. Opponents say the Cromwell family intended the tract to remain parkland. In July 2025, a group of Taylor residents filed suit seeking to block construction and to enforce the 1999 deed’s parkland clause.
Judge Ryan Larson of the 395th State District Court dismissed the plaintiffs' case in October 2025 for lack of standing. The plaintiffs appealed, and Texas' 15th Court of Appeals was considering the appeal at the time of reporting.
Zoning, Ballot Petition And Writ
Separately, campaigners petitioned the City Council in June 2026 to allow a public vote to ban data centers in existing zoning districts and to create a new zoning classification for digital infrastructure. City officials said the parcel had been zoned as an "Employment Center" in 2023 — a broad category the city describes as "anything that is not downtown commercial or housing" — and that it could not refuse projects that conform to existing zoning.
On July 9, 2026, the City Council said state law does not permit changing zoning by popular vote; the city manager later apologized after the council's initial Facebook post indicated it would "take no action on the petition" before public discussion. Campaigners filed a petition for a writ of mandamus with Texas’ 3rd Court of Appeals asking the court to order the council to put the zoning measure to a public vote.
Construction Status, Economics and Local History
It was unclear whether construction ever began; 2026 Google Maps imagery showed no visible signs of major new construction at the site. The City of Taylor has estimated the data center could generate up to $30 million in additional revenue over 10 years, which officials say could be used to reduce property taxes and support local services.
Background materials indicate Bonnibel Cromwell and members of the Bland family had long ties to the land. Historical markers and obituaries suggest the property was part of a Bland family farm established in 1878, and some locals say the original intent was to preserve the site for play and recreation.
Current Status
At the time of this report two Texas appellate courts were considering related matters: the 15th Court of Appeals was reviewing the residents' appeal over enforcement of the 1999 deed, and the 3rd Court of Appeals had received the petition over whether the council must allow a public vote. Snopes contacted Blueprint Data Centers for comment and was awaiting a response.
Sources: Williamson County deed records, City of Taylor project pages, court dockets for cases 15-25-00202-CV and 03-26-00652-CV, local news reports, and family obituaries and historical records cited in public documents.
