BROOK PARK, Ohio — Residents are mobilizing to block a proposal that would transform the historic International Exposition Center into a large-scale artificial intelligence data center. The movement, led by local resident Cassia Core, centers on a Change.org petition that has gathered nearly 2,000 signatures as of late October. Petitioners are not just worried about the loss of a regional landmark. They cite significant concerns about the long-term impact on the local power grid and the environment. The IX Center has a storied history in the Cleveland area, originally serving as a tank and bomber plant during World War II before its conversion into a premier convention space. Opponents of the new project argue that replacing a venue that hosts 30,000 vendors annually with a data center would be a mistake. According to the petition, the proposed facility would provide fewer than 300 permanent jobs, which critics say does not justify the massive consumption of water and electricity…..