This is the million-dollar question for downtown Cleveland - well, at least until we also get some clarity on that property currently occupied by the Cleveland Browns' stadium.
What will the city do with Burke Lakefront Airport? During Mayor Justin Bibb's tenure, the future of the Burke property has garnered an increasingly large focus; after all, this could become a tremendously valuable piece of lakefront property for Cleveland.
There have been plenty of stops and starts over the years when it comes to deciding the future of Burke, but it does feel like the writing is ultimately on the wall for Burke at this point. For starters, a recent study backed by the city of Cleveland show that the economic impacts of closing the small airport would be negligible.
And why's that? Burke generates about $77 million in direct economic activity each year through private airlines, training, office space rental, and medical transports. But, aside from the annual air show, the airport's traffic and use continues to dwindle, and there's no reason to think the city can't make up that potential revenue gap over time.
Sure, yes, the city might lose the beloved air show, but just think of the possibilities. Could Burke's land be repurposed into mixed-use residential and retail opportunities? Will it become beautiful public land for all to use? It's not often hundreds of acres of lakefront property just fall into a city's lap; Cleveland needs to be smart, but the city does need to take advantage.
So What Should Cleveland Ultimately Do With Burke?
The aforementioned study envisions a variety of scenarios for the Burke property, including a 170-acre park with tennis courts and an athletic center, mixed-use development, and a potential boutique hotel.
But ask a hundred people about their Burke opinion, and you'll get a hundred different answers. So to further help answer this pressing question, I turned to crowdsourcing some answers through email, social media, and Reddit. Here is what some people suggest:
"The western quarter is ripe for mixed-use development or just straight housing. It can also spur development near (and potentially replacing) Browns stadium as height restrictions will be lifted. The eastern 3/4ths can be a park. Plant some trees, make some hiking trails, etc."
"I wouldn't hold your breath. Closing Burke comes up every 10ish years, people get hyped, then the city decides they can't afford to do it because of federal funds that would have to be returned or what-have-you and it dies again for another few years. I think this is the 3rd or 4th time I've seen it happen. I personally think it would be amazing to open up more lakefront for public access."
"Bury the I-90 and all those freeways that are separating the city from the Lakefront, and reconnect the city street grid at grade level."
"Do anything but pull actual business from the near east/west/downtown. Cleveland and the Cleveland MSA aren't exactly growing in population, so anything new that is brought on too abruptly will just poach from already operating venues. I'd keep it as an airport, and give the Flats (which is Cleveland's actual waterfront) a decade to mature."
"50-acre Mr. Hero/amusement park."
"My assumption is they are going to create housing, business, entertainment. It's a lot of land that can be used to bolster the Rock Hall and general entertainment. Lots of cities that have lakefront area surround them with entertainment and food and it works wonders financially."
"Food trucks up and down the runway."
"Walking track would be amazing."
"Turn it into a resort like Sandals or something of that caliber with casinos."
"The return of Lido Lounge."
A second study by an Albany-based consulting firm lays out a couple short-term and long-term paths to ultimately closing Burke, but no matter what, none of it is going to be easy. There are many financial and legislative hurdles the city of Cleveland will face in reclaiming this lakefront property, and the battle for Burke is far from over.
Still, though, it's fun to dream about what this space could one day become.
(Photo credit: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0)