Name: The data center backlash is here
Uploaded: 2026-04-20T19:10:27Z
Description: AI’s real estate gold rush has a new antagonist: backlash. From furious residents to skeptical investors, resistance to data centers is no longer fringe — it’s shaping policy, stalling projects and raising new questions about cost, climate and scale.

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AI’s real estate gold rush has a new antagonist: backlash. From furious residents to skeptical investors, resistance to data centers is no longer fringe — it’s shaping policy, stalling projects and raising new questions about cost, climate and scale.

The data center backlash is here

The founders of Pacaso, a startup homebuying platform that sells partial ownership stakes in luxury vacation properties, have a sweeping vision: make homeownership more accessible by letting multiple buyers split the cost of a single home. But despite lofty ideals, some buyers reported losses, trouble reselling, and problems that mimic the struggles dogging timeshare owners. 

Inside Pacaso, the fractional homebuying start-up some buyers say "felt like a timeshare"

Get to know the force behind some of NYC’s most ambitious projects — Jeff Blau, live at #TRDForum on May 6!

Meet Related's Jeff Blau at TRD Forum!

Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz may be leaving Cobble Hill, but the neighborhood's prices are only heading one way: up. Their $11.8 million townhouse sale is more than a celebrity real estate moment. It's the latest sign that this Brooklyn enclave could be inching toward a new luxury tier, with brokers and developers already betting on even higher-end deals to come.

Cobble Hill’s luxury moment is just getting started

Spring is peak selling season in New York City real estate — but what does the luxury market really look like in 2026? On this episode of Deconstruct, top Douglas Elliman broker Frances Katzen joins the show to break down NYC luxury real estate trends, buyer demand, tight inventory, new development competition, international buyers, and what sellers need to know right now.

Spring selling season is here. Will NYC's luxury real estate market bloom? | Deconstruct

After a yearslong battle to get workers back to the office, New York City's office market has recovered. Kind of. While Class A buildings are bursting at the seams, Class B and C assets are still under pressure. Meanwhile, the push for office-to-residential conversion is taking space offline, and shifting power centers in the corporate world are changing what landlords and brokers can expect when bringing in new tenants. 

Where NYC's office market goes next | Real Deal Round Table

The party may soon be over in Chicago's wealthiest suburbs. What started as weekend noise complaints (bachelor parties, blowouts, police calls) has turned into something bigger: a fight over housing supply in some of the Midwest's most expensive markets.

Chicago's richest surburbs are done with "party houses"

Deconstruct breaks down the latest news on the Flatiron Building, a record lease at 9 West 57th, and a foreclosure at a car-branded condo in Miami. Plus, politics reporter Kathryn Brenzel joins the podcast to cover how new NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has fared in his first 100 days in office.

Real estate after Zohran Mamdani's first 100 days | Deconstruct

Head to Honolulu with TRD and BSH for a look at Kuilei Place, the newest condo tower from Kobayashi Group. The development will bring much-needed housing stock to the supply-choked market, elevating the luxury and sustainability standards of the island for first-time buyers eager to become owners. 

This high rise brings luxury and accessibility to Hawaii | Brand Studio

Yes in God’s backyard? Church land is becoming holy ground for developers, as partnerships with religious institutions turn underused properties into housing.

Church and state join in push for new wave of resi development #shorts

Penn Station's next act may require a plot twist: moving Madison Square Garden. 👀 A once-far-fetched idea is now a real contender in the station overhaul, with President Trump reportedly open to it, MSG owner James Dolan possibly in talks, and billions in public and private money at stake.

Trump admin boots MTA, takes over Penn Station overhaul #shorts

Geopolitics is once again intersecting with U.S. real estate. From rising mortgage rates to supply-chain strain and the AI infrastructure boom, conflict in the Middle East is already reshaping costs, deals and market sentiment across the U.S. For some sectors, it could even open new opportunities.

How rising oil prices could affect Houston’s luxury housing market #shorts

In this week’s Deconstruct, we examine how record Wall Street bonuses could influence New York City’s luxury real estate market. Plus: the upcoming trial of a former Vornado executive accused of fraud, foreclosure risks at Kaufman Astoria Studios, and why Palantir’s Miami headquarters announcement may not be what it seems.

After a $10 million fraud, Josh Schuster's victims struggle to claw back their cash | Deconstruct

The Trump Library Foundation just dropped a flashy new rendering of its proposed Miami skyscraper—and it’s massive. But beyond the bold design, there’s still a big question: what exactly will it be used for? 

Trump presidential library to soar above Miami skyline #shorts

A celebrity dentist is taking on his own co-op board—and raising a much bigger question about power in New York real estate. 🏙️

Dentist to the stars sues Central Park South co-op, board #shorts

A nearly $10M scheme allegedly hiding in plain sight at one of New York’s most powerful landlords. Former Vornado exec Jared Solomon is headed to trial in April, accused of funneling millions through fake brokerage firms and phony invoices tied to its Times Square signage business.

Former Vornado exec to face embezzlement trial in April #shorts

Most homebuyers don't even realize there's a battle over listings happening right now. Reporter Sheridan Wall joins the Deconstruct podcast to break down how Zillow's dominance — and new alliances like Compass' partnership with Redfin — could start shifting where buyers search and what homes they actually see.

Who controls what homes you see? The listing wars explained | Deconstruct

Zohran Mamdani’s Rent Guidelines Board says the average rent-stabilized landlord is doing just fine. The RGB just released its annual report on landlord profits and expenses, which finds that for NYC buildings containing rent-stabilized units, average Net Operating Income rose 6.2% from 2023 to 2024. Mamdani and tenant advocates say this bolsters the case for a rent freeze, while landlord representatives say the number is misleading.

Rent Guidelines Board says buildings’ net income climbed by 6% #shorts

David Simon's death marks the end of a retail era — and sharpens the story of what comes next. The future of the American mall is increasingly a tale of two markets: closures and delinquencies on one end, luxury, experience-driven strength on the other.

Mall titan David Simon dies at 64 #shorts

Residential brokers cash in when they move listings. But they can't do it alone. The brokerages where they hang their hats take a split, and other service providers have often looked to profit on the home sales market. TRD's Sheridan Wall tracked a battle between brokerage giant Compass and listings platform Zillow, as the two took to the courts to determine who decides where and how brokers market those listings for sale. 