Miles of hiking trails, a downtown campground and a waterfront public golf course are all possibilities to replace Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport.
That vision is outlined in a recent report released Wednesday by the city and paid for by the Northcoast Waterfront Development Corporation, the nonprofit tasked with downtown lakefront redevelopment.
The renderings blend public green space, such as a 193-acre urban park and a lakefront promenade, with revenue-generating projects, such as hotels and dining options.
The concepts are just that; concepts.
"This is not a master plan," NCWDC Director Scott Skinner said in an interview. "This is not a formal plan anyone is moving forward with as is. This is a tool to facilitate conversation with City Council and with the general public and it was an exercise to see what we could actually fit on Burke."
The mixed-use redevelopment ideas, which the study estimates could generate more than $2.6 million in city tax revenue, could ease concerns from some city councilmembers about Cleveland's ability to maintain hundreds of acres of public space by also offering money-making ventures.
But those sweeping plans would cost hundreds of millions in redevelopment, with estimates for various designs ranging from $480 million to more than $800 million. Mayor Justin Bibb and NWCDC Director Scott Skinner have said they plan to leverage federal, state and private investments and financing to impact on the city's general revenue fund.
The report signals Bibb's administration's eagerness to move forward with his plans to close the airport, which primarily serves corporate and private jets and is home to the annual Cleveland National Air Show. Bibb cites a decline in airport traffic and an annual loss of $2 million as supporting evidence to shutter operations by 2029.
Jessica Trivisonno, Bibb's chief strategy officer, said the administration plans to present a report to council next week about the pathways to close the airport, which include authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration or by an act of Congress. She said the city is pursuing both.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 announcement builds on decades of research, all pointing to one clear conclusion: Cleveland has a tangible opportunity to lead the region by setting a new standard for lakefront development,鈥� Bibb said in a release from the city. 鈥淭his is our moment to reimagine the lakefront by delivering accessible, high-impact investment that drives economic growth and creates sustainable opportunities reaching beyond downtown to every neighborhood.鈥�
The city released the report the same day a coalition opposing Burke's closure held a media day.
"There is a compromise here," said Kyle Lewis of the Airport Owners and Pilots Association. "This could be aeronautical use and recreational use. It's just taking a creative look at what could be."
But Trivisonno told reporters it's not practical to keep a runway opened, as suggested by Burke backers, and develop the rest of the land. Despite pushback, Trivisonno said city is moving forward with its efforts to close the airport while engaging with stakeholders, including the Air Show.
Council plans to pick back up informational hearings on the impacts of closing the airport on April 1. There is not yet legislation before council, but Charles Slife, who heads the transportation committee, said he wants the public to be fully informed about the plans' strengths, limitations and long-term impact.
