FAA Chief, Sen. Moreno Say Burke Should Stay Open, Complicating Mayor Justin Bibb’s Plans for Airport
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Key federal officials are standing behind Burke Lakefront Airport according to local reports, complicating Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s goal of closing the downtown airfield and redeveloping its 450-acre lakefront site.
After touring an FAA air traffic control center in Oberlin on Friday, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno voiced strong opposition to closing the downtown Cleveland airport, arguing it remains an important part of the region’s aviation network.
Bedford told Channel 5 and Fox 8 that eliminating Burke would be a mistake from both a safety and economic standpoint, particularly as air travel continues to grow. He added that the FAA is opposed to closing airports across the country.
“The FAA has not received a formal request to close Burke Lakefront Airport,” the FAA said Saturday in a statement to cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. “As Administrator Bedford pointed out, the FAA’s policy is to strengthen the national airports system not to close airports.”
Moreno said discussions with people who would be impacted if Burke closed convinced him that the small airport’s role extends beyond the Northeast Ohio area.
“It would be patently absurd for a politician to override the experts at the FAA, to say we know better than you do,” Moreno told Channel 5.
Closing Burke requires either federal approval or a law passed by Congress.
On Friday, meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted’s office released a statement echoing Moreno’s sentiment.
“At this time, Senator Husted believes any change to Burke Lakefront should go through the traditional process so the FAA can properly assess any plans for the property’s future,” the statement said.
Shutting down Burke and redeveloping its lakefront property is a major goal of Bibb’s administration in his second term. He is seeking it to be closed by the end of 2029.
Bibb in March unveiled his $600 million vision for what could be built on the prime land if Burke closed. His two early development concepts include urban parks, a golf course, a 180-acre youth sports complex, restaurants and an area for RV camping.
City Hall pushed back on the federal officials’ remarks in a statement released Saturday to cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer.
“We are disheartened that the federal administration’s position appears to bypass the best interests of Clevelanders and Ohioans, who actually have to live with the consequences,” said Tyler Sinclair, a spokesperson in the mayor’s office.
“The 450 acres of lakefront property occupied by Burke Lakefront Airport belong to the people of Cleveland and should benefit the people of Cleveland. Burke is an underutilized public asset that has been operating at a multi-million-dollar deficit over the past two decades.”
The future of Burke has been debated in Cleveland for decades. Supporters of keeping the airport open argue that a downtown airport is a valuable asset that distinguishes Cleveland from many other cities, especially if it’s invested in. Advocates for closure contend the valuable property could produce greater public and economic benefits if it were redeveloped.
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