Facebook buys more land at north Fort Worth data center site

Less than six months after a groundbreaking ceremony that attracted numerous local and state officials, Facebook has acquired more land at the far north Fort Worth site where it is building a massive billion-dollar data center complex.

Officials with the social media giant, based in Menlo Park, Calif., could not be reached for comment on how it plans to use the additional land, at Texas 170 and Independence Parkway in the Alliance development.

Under the entity PMN Partners, Facebook bought an additional 39.4 acres on Dec. 22 from AIL Investment LP, a Hillwood Property entity, deed records show. Hillwood is the developer of the 18,000-acre Alliance project.

PMN Partners registered with the Texas secretary of state’s office Dec. 18, records show.

Facebook now owns about 150 acres in far north Fort Worth after earlier buying 110 acres for its project. The first of three 250,000-square-foot buildings is under construction and expected to be up and running by the end of the year.

Facebook has said its investment in Fort Worth could reach $1 billion, but that was before it bought the additional acreage.

Fort Worth was among 220 cities and four finalists that Facebook considered for the project. The data center, to be fully operated by wind power generated in Clay County, northwest of Tarrant County, will eventually have more than 100 employees.

Last May, the City Council approved grants on real and business personal property taxes over 20 years on the project, which if achieved will become the city’s largest incentive deal. Facebook committed to at least 40 positions under terms of the incentive.

Under the deal, the city will get most of its taxes upfront. In the first 10 years, projections show Facebook paying $21.9 million in taxes to the city and retaining $12.7 million in taxes. But the company's portion grows to $63.5 million at 15 years and $146.7 million at 20 years. By the end of 20 years, Fort Worth will receive $48.5 million in taxes.

On top of that, Tarrant County Commissioners approved a 10-year abatement of up to 60 percent of new real and business personal property value for Tarrant County taxes and up to 40 percent for Tarrant County Hospital District taxes.

Facebook boasts more than 1.5 billion worldwide users.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Facebook buys more land at north Fort Worth data center site."