6 days ago
‘Grave concern': Not everyone sold on I-X Center transformation plan
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The I-X Center appears headed for a dramatic transformation.
Over the years, it became a tank factory, then one of Cleveland's most iconic event spaces.
But that era appears to be coming to an end.
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On Monday night, Cleveland City Council approved a deal that clears the way for a major corporation to lease one million square feet inside the I-X Center. In exchange, the city gains access to 69 acres of valuable land near the airport that officials believe could drive significant long-term growth.
The deal includes the promise of more than 200 high-paying jobs. But not everyone is on board.
The new lease runs 49 years, replacing the previous agreement, which had about 14 years remaining. Critics argue that the city is locking itself into a long-term plan that hasn't been fully fleshed out.
'It's a 49-year lease. That's a long time,' said longtime councilman Mike Polensek, one of only two members to vote against the proposal.
Polensek also raised concerns about the future of beloved events, like the Cleveland Auto Show, which have long called the I-X Center home.
'The income tax—we have to share with Brook Park, who are trying to take our Browns as we speak,' he added.
City officials say the Huntington Convention Center downtown could host those large-scale events moving forward. But Polensek isn't convinced.
'I don't know if the Huntington Convention Center can support those kinds of shows,' he said.
As for the identity of the new corporate tenant? The city is staying tight-lipped. Officials say only that the economic impact will be worth the tradeoff—and that the next chapter for the I-X Center is focused on business, not show business.
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'Now to find out at the 11th hour that it is going to disappear is of grave concern to me,' Polensek said.
City leaders haven't yet announced when events at the I-X Center will officially come to an end or when the new tenant will move in.
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