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Council committee advances Brook Park/I‑X Center settlement to restore city control of airport‑area tax revenue
Summary
The finance committee approved a negotiated settlement with Brook Park to end long‑running tax‑sharing over land around Burke Lakefront/I‑X Center, a deal the administration says clears roughly 240 acres for Cleveland development while requiring a lump sum and annual payments to Brook Park.
Cleveland’s finance committee on July 14 voted to send to the full council a negotiated agreement that would end decades‑old tax‑sharing between Cleveland and neighboring Brook Park around the I‑X Center and parts of Emerald Corporate Parkway.
The administration described the package as a buy‑out of Brook Park’s perpetual tax shares on roughly 240 acres: a settlement payment and a fixed annual transfer that together will remove Brook Park’s claim and return future property and income taxes to Cleveland and the airport. Director of Port Control and the mayoral team told council the agreement is intended to free the parcels for redevelopment and to improve the airport’s fiscal standing.
Why it matters: Committee members said the deal could open substantial development‑opportunity acreage adjacent to the airport and I‑X Center. The administration presented modeling showing that recapturing year‑to‑date receipts plus potential payroll from a large prospective tenant would exceed the deal cost over time; opponents sought more current revenue figures and asked for anti‑poaching protections to keep events and customers in Cleveland.
Questions and concerns: Several members requested up‑to‑date revenue and attendance data from the I‑X Center (the administration cited 2024 city receipts of $227,339 and Brook Park receipts of $248,448). Some council members, skeptical after earlier high‑profile deals, asked whether trade‑show activity would continue under current operators, whether Brook Park could rezone or use reclaimed land for parking or other uses, and whether anti‑poaching commitments could be secured.
Outcome: The committee approved the ordinance as amended; the measure will be considered by the full council. The administration said negotiations with Brook Park are concluded for the package forwarded; members recorded several 'no' votes in committee and requested additional written clarifications—especially updated revenue and specific anti‑poaching language—before final council action.
Next steps: The ordinance, with the settlement terms and attached amendments, will be placed on the full council docket for a final vote. The administration will provide requested 2024–2025 revenue and payroll projections to answer members’ questions about break‑even and long‑term benefit assumptions.
