Watching the Premier League Mornings Live Fan Festival on Chicago’s lakefront this past weekend made me hope for Cleveland to host one of these in near future- if only our lakefront was ready to go. Someday (hope Columbus or Cinci don't beat us to the 2 next season or after).

 

Edited September 23, 2024Sep 23 by Willo

On 9/20/2024 at 11:47 AM, Foraker said:

As @KJP noted in his article, even if the FAA agrees to close Burke, we're going to have to spend money to upgrade another local airport to be a reliever for Hopkins.  But I agree -- now is as good a time as any to get started.

 

Wasn't there a plan several years ago to build offices along the southern edge of Burke?  Maybe a strip of buildings with a mix of small business/worker housing could be built now, without waiting for Burke to close.

Has been crickets from Bibb and Jimmy since this report was released last month. Hope that means they are privately talking Burke! 

FYI - Drove by Lake County Executive airport (an FAA-funded Hopkins reliever airport) and the major overhauls funded by FAA and sponsored by Sherrod Brown are under way comprising a brand new terminal and major runway rehab and even private hangars (construction equipment lines the the majority of the runaway that can be seen from Lost Nation). It appears ready to expand business further which likely would easily include absorbing parts of Burke ops along with Cuyahoga County and their siblings in the 5-county region. Let's get that Nature Preseve locked down with some economic development (Jimmy World?) on the western edge adjacent across from Rock Hall.  Beyond that we don't need further housing or offices on rest of this tract (not to mention the sediment/fill challenges underneath) given Cleveland's embarassment of idle land nearby just waiting for rebirth. That economic activity should emerge on the bluffs like Gordon Square lakefront.  Let's get this legacy project done Bibb, Royanye and Sherrod!

https://www.news-herald.com/2024/09/20/lake-county-executive-airport-terminal-building-project-set-to-move-forward/?utm_content=tw-newsheraldinoh&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com

15 hours ago, Willo said:

Has been crickets from Bibb and Jimmy since this report was released last month. Hope that means they are privately talking Burke! 

FYI - Drove by Lake County Executive airport (an FAA-funded Hopkins reliever airport) and the major overhauls funded by FAA and sponsored by Sherrod Brown are under way comprising a brand new terminal and major runway rehab and even private hangars (construction equipment lines the the majority of the runaway that can be seen from Lost Nation). It appears ready to expand business further which likely would easily include absorbing parts of Burke ops along with Cuyahoga County and their siblings in the 5-county region. Let's get that Nature Preseve locked down with some economic development (Jimmy World?) on the western edge adjacent across from Rock Hall.  Beyond that we don't need further housing or offices on rest of this tract (not to mention the sediment/fill challenges underneath) given Cleveland's embarassment of idle land nearby just waiting for rebirth. That economic activity should emerge on the bluffs like Gordon Square lakefront.  Let's get this legacy project done Bibb, Royanye and Sherrod!

 

@KJP - how hard would it be to extend the Waterfront Line to this airport?

I just drove by BKL on the Shoreway.  Independence Excavating is on the Marginal Rd taking down EVERY tree along the BKL fence-line.   Probably some utility work coming,  but sad to see all those trees go.  

4 minutes ago, Cleburger said:

I just drove by BKL on the Shoreway.  Independence Excavating is on the Marginal Rd taking down EVERY tree along the BKL fence-line.   Probably some utility work coming,  but sad to see all those trees go.  

 

Probably more to do with the trail expansion/improvements? Maybe? 

5 minutes ago, GISguy said:

 

Probably more to do with the trail expansion/improvements? Maybe? 

Forgot about that.  That is probably it! 

I still wish they would do it on the north side of the airport.   An elevated boardwalk along the harbor, not unlike the Brisbane Riverwalk that I cycled a few months back.  

3 hours ago, Cleburger said:

Forgot about that.  That is probably it! 

I still wish they would do it on the north side of the airport.   An elevated boardwalk along the harbor, not unlike the Brisbane Riverwalk that I cycled a few months back.  

Is very possible for the future uses of the Burke site. Hopefully the James Cormer Field Operations will be engaged further to continue their lakefront planning eastward to include some Burke ecomomic development and an iconic public access nature preserve. 

 

For examples look at their refforts in China

https://www.fieldoperations.net/project-details/project/taopu-central-park.html

 

or their plans in Staten Island for 750 acres of former landfill (sound familiar?):

https://www.fieldoperations.net/project-details/project/freshkills-park.html

 

or brooklyn's waterfront

https://www.fieldoperations.net/project-details/project/river-ring.html

 

I think we have the right firm to help Cleveland reimagine the future of considerable but misused assets...

13 hours ago, Willo said:

Is very possible for the future uses of the Burke site. Hopefully the James Cormer Field Operations will be engaged further to continue their lakefront planning eastward to include some Burke ecomomic development and an iconic public access nature preserve. 

 

For examples look at their refforts in China

https://www.fieldoperations.net/project-details/project/taopu-central-park.html

 

or their plans in Staten Island for 750 acres of former landfill (sound familiar?):

https://www.fieldoperations.net/project-details/project/freshkills-park.html

 

or brooklyn's waterfront

https://www.fieldoperations.net/project-details/project/river-ring.html

 

I think we have the right firm to help Cleveland reimagine the future of considerable but misused assets...

 

Just to remain clear....I support keeping Burke open, but including public lakefront access along the north side of the field, with a boardwalk of sorts wrapping the property.   Until there is enough developer interest or the City of Cleveland finds funds to maintain a 450 acre park (Unlikely in the coming decade of MAGA), this to me is a logical first-step that allows public access while coexisting with the airport (and making for a pretty unique experience!).  

6 hours ago, Cleburger said:

Cleveland finds funds to maintain a 450 acre park

I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here, but there is a 0% chance that the City of Cleveland would even try to maintain a 450 acre park. They would hand it over to the Metroparks who has both the funds and experience to create and maintain a large park like this. 

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2024/11/how-to-close-burke-airport-with-a-minimum-of-faa-and-private-aviation-pushback-roger-cohen.html

6 hours ago, LibertyBlvd said:

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2024/11/how-to-close-burke-airport-with-a-minimum-of-faa-and-private-aviation-pushback-roger-cohen.html

Nailed it - Well done native Clevelander!  He definitely is an expert on the subject of closing sleepy Burke.

 

"...with local alternatives like Cuyahoga County Airport and Lake County Executive Airport, corporate jets don’t need Burke. Sherwin-Williams Co. chose Cleveland Hopkins International Airport for its corporate jet hangar because of its few airline delays. Football fans might not appreciate the sacrifice, but if the city redevelops the stadium land instead of the larger Burke site, only one Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) board member would sacrifice their walk from planeside to work -- the Browns’ Dee Haslam."

 

"Tuesday’s election has opened new political paths for the business community. Make closing Burke a priority in filling the JD Vance Senate vacancy. The White House directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and if Republicans take the House as well as Senate, Republicans will likely chair the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Commerce committees, the last bastion of bipartisanship and behind-the-scenes horse trading. Closing Burke becomes an easy, “I’ll scratch your back vote,” especially if no local politician is willing to die on their sword for the little-used airport."

 

"Check out that former Meigs site on your next visit to the Windy City. Northerly Island offers pristine views nestled against Millenium Park, a world-class recreational, arts and civic mecca on Chicago’s lakefront.

 

"Cleveland deserves no less."

 

13 hours ago, Willo said:

Check out that former Meigs site on your next visit to the Windy City. Northerly Island offers pristine views nestled against Millenium Park, a world-class recreational, arts and civic mecca on Chicago’s lakefront.

So tired of this giant apple to little tiny oranges comparison.    The Chicago loop isn't littered with surface parking lots.   Every inch of waterfront property had been developed for a century.   

 

Here in the city of Cleveland, we'd be lucky to get a park and a bunch of suburban cul-de-sac style developments.   

 

We should be looking at Buffalo for a closer comparison. 

1 hour ago, Cleburger said:

So tired of this giant apple to little tiny oranges comparison.    The Chicago loop isn't littered with surface parking lots.   Every inch of waterfront property had been developed for a century.   

 

Here in the city of Cleveland, we'd be lucky to get a park and a bunch of suburban cul-de-sac style developments.   

 

We should be looking at Buffalo for a closer comparison. 

True. Buffalo is an another great example of how far behind we are. Our Lake Erie sibling is doing well with their 99 acre new park (notably named after Bills family foundation).

https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Ralph-Wilson-Park-Announcement-7.19.22-FINAL.pdf

We could use a landmark bridge like Buffalo’s at our new 18th Street connector to Burke.

https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/17032-buffalos-ralph-wilson-park-welcomes-a-new-pedestrian-bridge-after-a-journey-across-the-atlantic

Edited November 9, 2024Nov 9 by Willo

3 hours ago, E Rocc said:

 

Most here.

Moving here as this has nothing to do with the campus district, but... 

 

Talking to people irl, I'd say this site is a reasonable representative sample of opinions on BKL. Among people who know what BKL is, a small minority actively want to keep it open, the reminder are split between actively wanting to close it, and thinking the conversation is pointless. 

Cleveland should take note of this development at Lunken (especially with Cleveland hotels allegedly doing great business).    A boutique hotel at Burke combined with a greenway around the outer edge of the airport property (waterfront) is an excellent start to reimagining the land use of Burke, without having to fight the FAA for closure. 

 

 

I think that’s a great starting place. It’s not too far off from what Zack Reed proposed during his campaign:

https://www.clevescene.com/news/zack-reed-unveils-plan-to-keep-burke-lakefront-airport-construct-mixed-use-development-on-site-36204892
 

I would really like to see this as a phase 1.
 

Is Burke included in the core to shore TIF? If so, it would be awesome to get started on this while the infrastructure/land bridge work is underway and the future of the stadium is getting figured out. 

I have doubts we will see any major investments until there is more clarity on Burke’s future. But it definitely wouldn’t hurt to start sprucing up the surrounding area e.g. @Cleburger’s greenway idea. 

So potentially dumb question here....

 

But does it have to be the Cuyahoga County Airport that has its runway extended to be the new relief airport for Burke to close? The Lorain County Airport is 6 miles closer to Hopkins and has more room to grow. It is about twice as far from Downtown though. 

2 hours ago, PlanCleveland said:

So potentially dumb question here....

 

But does it have to be the Cuyahoga County Airport that has its runway extended to be the new relief airport for Burke to close? The Lorain County Airport is 6 miles closer to Hopkins and has more room to grow. It is about twice as far from Downtown though. 

All FAA Reliever airports in the area more than cover the shrinking BKL operations: Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina and Lake County Executive. The political window is now open to address Burke completely after 50 years of hope and prayers - plus we have DeWine's reported attention following his epic listening tour when feigned interest in addressing the Browns, Lakefront and Riverfront.

On 2/5/2025 at 2:59 PM, Henke said:

I think that’s a great starting place. It’s not too far off from what Zack Reed proposed during his campaign:

https://www.clevescene.com/news/zack-reed-unveils-plan-to-keep-burke-lakefront-airport-construct-mixed-use-development-on-site-36204892
 

I would really like to see this as a phase 1.
 

Is Burke included in the core to shore TIF? If so, it would be awesome to get started on this while the infrastructure/land bridge work is underway and the future of the stadium is getting figured out. 

Zack Reed - Frank Jackson not available?  Odd timing.  He repeats the same tired thinking that only results in another 50 years of doing nothing big as the city's and region's stale date fast approaches. Please lets move on with the new generation of leaders.