Cleveland eyes new parking, hotel fees for lakefront revamp
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Lakefront photo opp. Photo: Destination Cleveland/Courtesy of Erik Drost
New user fees and surcharges could be coming to the Cleveland lakefront under a city proposal to finance a land bridge and other amenities there.
State of play: A "new community authority," or NCA, is an economic development tool permitted by Ohio law that allows designated geographic areas to collect fees on things like parking, retail sales and hotel stays from property owners.
What they're saying: It's a mechanism with little downside, North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation executive director Scott Skinner tells Axios.
- There are more than 55 of them across Ohio, but only one in the region, in Richmond Heights.
The latest: Skinner and Mayor Justin Bibb's senior adviser on major projects, Jessica Trivisonno, presented the concept at a city council hearing last week.
- Councilman Kris Harsh presided over the meeting and expressed support, saying these fees would help shield the city's general fund.
How it works: Skinner's organization, created last year to help the city fundraise and implement the North Coast master plan, would oversee the North Coast NCA, which would have its own board.
- It could levy maximum charges of $5 per parking space, $2 on event admission, 5% on food, beverage and retail sales, and 10% on hotel stays in a designated area north of the shoreway.
- Revenue would fund the proposed land bridge, streetscape and multi-use paths, landscaping, parking facilities, public art, programming and NCA operational expenses.
Between the lines: Skinner tells Axios the charges would be nowhere near that high to start — he suggested a $1 parking fee — and that individual rates would be negotiated with the property owners.
What's next: An ordinance creating the NCA will go before the council's Development, Planning and Sustainability Committee in the coming days.