Mayor Justin Bibb and the City of Cleveland are making strides and looking toward possibly redeveloping the Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL). Today, officials released a couple of studies exploring the implications and economic effects of potentially closing the 245-acre lakefront property. Mayor Bibb said in a statement obtained by the City of Cleveland's press release, “These studies are crucial in helping us understand the feasibility and potential benefits of transforming Burke Lakefront Airport into a space that better serves our community.”
The first document, an Airport Layout Plan Narrative Report, takes a hard look at the necessary FAA requirements and the practicality, including legal and financial, of closing BKL. The second study focuses on the prospective redevelopment's economic impact, finding that the airport's current economic footprint is relatively minor, around $76.6 million in annual direct economic activity, which, the study suggests, could also remain within the region if the airport were to close. According to the same press release, City Council President Blaine A. Griffin noted that the report connects “quantitative research with the many thoughts and opinions shared over the years.”
Under a "Maximum Development Scenario," according to the City of Cleveland, which retains 200 acres for parks and greenspace mixed with some development, there's an estimated increase of about $92 million in direct economic activity per year. The vitae of the Cleveland economy is expected to morph through this lakeshore revision, casting a broader net over the possibilities of public space and commercial integration. The studies provide a narrative that follows a city wrestling with its lakefront identity, crunching numbers to draft a future that respects the terrain of the economy and the yearnings of its people for green, communal spaces.
However, the debate is far from over. Mayor Bibb affirmed the studies' preliminary nature, clarifying, “We are committed to making a decision that is in the best interest of Cleveland’s future.” The city plans to engage with stakeholders thoroughly before embarking on the formal FAA application process for closure. Adding his voice, Ward 3 Councilman Kerry McCormack told the City of Cleveland, “As a longtime advocate for public access to our waterfronts, I applaud Mayor Bibb for commissioning detailed and thoughtful studies on the future of Burke Lakefront Airport.” The decisions in the future promise to intertwine with the tapestry of Cleveland's scenic lakeshore and its practical wants and needs for future generations.
