Cleveland and county leaders ask feds to help close Burke
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Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne are formally asking Washington to help them close Burke Lakefront Airport.
Why it matters: With federal approval, Cleveland could bypass years of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) red tape and move quickly to repurpose the 450 acres of prime downtown real estate as housing, parks and job-creating development.
What they're saying: In their Oct. 22 letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Ohio's congressional delegation, Bibb and Ronayne called closing Burke a "once-in-a-century opportunity" to reconnect residents with Lake Erie.
- "Closing Burke will create a lakefront that is accessible to all and make Cleveland competitive with the world's most dynamic waterfront cities," they wrote.
Between the lines: The FAA has the authority to close Burke, but the local leaders are asking Congress to authorize the decision. They think it would accelerate a process that might otherwise stretch out for years.
The latest: Duffy was in Cleveland this week to tour Hopkins Airport and NASA Glenn Research Center with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Crain's reported.
- City and county officials briefly discussed the Burke letter with Duffy during his visit.
By the numbers: City-commissioned studies last year found Burke costs Cleveland roughly $900,000 annually in operating losses. Redevelopment could generate more than $90 million a year in economic activity.
- Most of Burke's operations, including private passenger service and medical transport, could be absorbed by Hopkins or the Cuyahoga County Airport.
The bottom line: Bibb and Ronayne believe that with federal partnership, Burke can be decommissioned without hurting regional aviation and can move toward a waterfront that serves everyone — not just a decreasing number of private planes.