Aero-Ignorant Mayor Asks for Congressional Help to Get the Redevelopment Project Off the Ground

Cleveland officials are again attempting to close a beloved community airport, this time by exploiting a federal loophole. Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne have asked Congress to help them bypass years of FAA red tape and waive more than $9 million in federal grant obligations that legally bind the city to operate the airport until 2036.

Supporters of closure argue the 450-acre Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) is underused and costly, and that its footprint could instead host parks, housing, retail, and public spaces -- because, let's face it there are not enough of those... right? City-commissioned studies claim redevelopment could deliver higher long-term revenue than the airport’s current general aviation activity, which they say could shift to other airports like Cleveland Hopkins…though those facilities lack the hangar space needed to absorb Burke’s tenants.

The push faces steep structural challenges. Because Burke has accepted federal dollars, closing it early normally requires repayment of grant funds, FAA approval, and proof that shutting down the airport benefits, not harms, the national aviation system (Hint: Not a chance). A congressional act could sidestep those requirements, which is why city officials are leaning on federal lawmakers rather than the typical FAA closure path.

Opposition has surfaced quickly. Organizations warn that Burke supports essential aviation services, including Cleveland Clinic aeromedical flights and the Cleveland National Air Show. The annual airshow draws more than 100,000 spectators and generates an estimated $7.1 million for the local economy.

This financial loss would be exacerbated by countless other redevelopment costs if Burke were to close. At a minimum, the city would owe $16.5 million to Signature Flight Support for recent infrastructure investments, around $15 million in demolition and site restoration costs, and additional environmental fees tied to the airport’s landfill foundation.

The latest addition to the saga is a mass email from yet another anti-aviation Congresswoman Shontel Brown of Ohio’s 11th District asking locals if they support federal legislation to shut down Burke Lakefront Airport for redevelopment. In the text, she paints the closure as a “rare opportunity to reconnect Cleveland with its waterfront and unlock significant economic and community benefits.” She did not, of course, mention the rich general aviation culture and flight training operations the land supports in its current state, but then again, what elected offcial let's facts get in the way of their stated purpose... 

FMI: www.burkeairport.com