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A Henrico County homeowner says construction of three QTS data centers across Elko Road has made his house intermittently shake, leaving him worried about damage that may not be visible for years. County officials attribute the vibration to installation of rammed aggregate piers and other site work. No vibration readings, engineering assessment or finding of structural damage has been reported.
What the homeowner says he is experiencing
Mark Davis, who has lived on Elko Road in eastern Henrico for more than two decades, says the character of the area changed when construction began roughly six months before the report. He described increased noise, truck traffic and dust, with work taking place seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Davis said that on multiple occasions over several weeks he felt the floor, chairs and desk in his home vibrate. He said individual episodes could last as long as 20 minutes and varied in intensity.
“It used to be very peaceful out here, even with some road traffic and other stuff, until they started construction across the street for the three data centers that QTS is putting in,” Davis said.
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In one incident, he recalled: “About four weeks ago, [I was] sitting in my front room, doing some stuff on the computer. Next thing I know, I feel the floor vibrating, my chairs vibrating, the desk that I sat my arms on is vibrating. I’m like, ‘what the hell?’”
His concern is not limited to temporary discomfort. Davis said he does not know whether the shaking has harmed his house or neighboring homes, or whether any effects would become apparent only later. “I don’t know whether you’ve damaged my house or not, or not just mine, but my neighbors’ on both sides of me, and we might not know for years. And so, what are we supposed to do? I don’t think you have a right to vibrate somebody’s house. I don’t care what you’re doing.”
Why the site is producing vibration
Henrico County said the reported vibration came from construction of “rammed aggregate piers,” a ground-improvement method intended to support the buildings, along with other work on the site. The project is part of White Oak Technology Park, where the three data centers are being built across Elko Road.
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Rammed aggregate pier installation uses repeated force to place and compact stone columns in the ground. Nearby residents can feel that energy as vibration, but the available account does not establish how strong the movement was at Davis’s property or whether it exceeded a specified limit. The report includes no instrument readings or independent engineering opinion.
What QTS and Henrico County have offered
QTS response
QTS said it has been communicating with Davis and takes his concerns seriously. The company said it “can coordinate a residential inspection to provide additional assurance regarding the condition of the home.” It also said it is “evaluating additional monitoring and mitigation measures that could be implemented during construction activities.”
Davis proposed placing vibration monitors around the site perimeter so that movement could be recorded while the work is happening. During a visit, CBS 6 observed black boxes near the site, but reported that those devices monitored noise rather than vibration. That distinction matters: noise data cannot show how ground movement changes at nearby homes.
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QTS said all construction activities “are being conducted in accordance with all applicable local requirements.” The statement does not specify a vibration measurement, a trigger for changing construction methods or a compensation process if damage is later documented.
Henrico County’s role
Henrico said the project was approved before the county ended by-right zoning for data centers in 2025. As a result, the development was not subject to the newer, more rigorous review process under which the county can impose special conditions on a data-center proposal.
County spokesperson Steve Knockemus said land development is regulated through the county code, with compliance monitored by staff from multiple departments and through inspections. He said the building inspection office generally “does not receive many complaints related to vibrations.” That describes the office’s complaint history; it does not determine whether vibration at Davis’s home is safe or whether this project caused damage.
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Henrico said it is prepared to arrange and pay for a structural engineer to inspect Davis’s foundation after construction if QTS declines to do so. The county has not announced a completed inspection or a finding about the home’s condition.
What is known—and what is not
| Question | Current information |
|---|---|
| What is being built? | Three QTS data centers across Elko Road in Henrico’s White Oak Technology Park. |
| When did the reported disruption begin? | Davis says construction started roughly six months before the report. |
| How long did shaking episodes last? | He reports episodes lasting up to 20 minutes; this is an eyewitness account, not an instrument reading. |
| What caused the vibration? | The county attributes it to rammed aggregate piers and other site work. |
| Were vibration levels measured? | No vibration-meter readings are reported. |
| Has structural damage been confirmed? | No engineering assessment or confirmed damage is reported. |
| What inspections have been offered? | QTS offered to coordinate a residential inspection. Henrico offered to arrange and pay for a structural-engineer foundation inspection if QTS declines after completion. |
| What remedy applies if damage is found? | No defined remedy is reported. |
Practical next steps for residents
The report leaves the central question unresolved: whether the vibration is merely noticeable or has affected a structure. Residents who experience similar movement can create a useful record while seeking a formal response.
- Record each event. Note the date, start and end time, construction activity visible or audible at the site, and which parts of the home moved.
- Photograph existing conditions. Capture dated images of cracks, doors that stick, gaps around windows and other conditions before and after major work. Avoid altering a crack before an engineer can document it.
- Request instrumented monitoring. Ask the contractor and county whether vibration monitors can operate at the property line and, where appropriate, at the home, with readings shared with residents.
- Seek an independent inspection. Clarify who selects the engineer, who pays, what areas will be examined and whether a written report will be provided.
- Keep communications in writing. Written requests to the contractor and county should identify the address, dates of events and the specific response requested.
What remains unresolved
Davis still does not know what would happen if an inspection identifies a problem. The current account does not establish a vibration threshold for the project, whether monitoring will occur during the remaining work, who would determine causation, or what repair or compensation process would follow a documented loss.
For now, the confirmed facts are limited: a resident reports intermittent shaking during construction, Henrico identifies the ground-improvement work as the likely source, QTS has offered to coordinate an inspection and consider additional controls, and the county has offered a possible post-construction engineering inspection. Structural damage and the next remedy remain unconfirmed.
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