Welcome

Relocating a Port, Investing in a Region

In 2009 the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority is poised to start a journey toward a different magnitude of port — one that is diverse in its business capacity and far-reaching in its vision. We are working to position ourselves as an organization that can attract and facilitate transformative investments here in Cleveland. We wish to help author a new story for economic development in our region. And the story started way back when the citizens of Cleveland spoke, and said they wanted their downtown waterfront to be something different.

For years now, Clevelanders have talked about turning our downtown waterfront into something special. Scores of meetings took place and eventually a lakefront plan emerged. And one clear conclusion was that the Port of Cleveland should move. The reason for this is obvious — we want to develop a waterfront bursting with recreation, entertainment, cultural events and access to our lake. At the Port Authority, we think we’ve figured out a way to connect the dots of lake access, downtown waterfront development, better port operations, increased global business competitiveness and significant economic development. And there is a sound logic chain underlying these ideas.

By federal law, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for dredging our river so ships can use it, and it needs a place to put the dredged material. In the recent past it’s gone near Burke Lakefront Airport and elsewhere, building up land mass. Why not use the newly created land for a port? We have to pay about a third of the dredging cost whether we use the created land or not, so let’s use it. But where should it go?

The Port Authority believes that the discussion of the new maritime port’s location should begin and end with what makes business sense — including the business of protecting our environment. It is clear that an area near East 55th Street fits together the pieces of the economic development and investment-producing puzzle. There is nearby national rail and highway access, underutilized industrial property ripe for business development, an ability to maintain and potentially improve boating and recreational uses on that portion of the lake and a St. Clair-Superior neighborhood that is willing to partner with us.

So the logic chain presented here is clear: Clevelanders want the port to move so they have lake access and a world-class waterfront, the Army Corps of Engineers has to dredge the Cuyahoga River and build land, the port needs opportunities to grow and diversify business and attract transformative investment and the area near East 55th Street provides all the right elements. The sum total of all this activity is the creation of good jobs and a healthier Cleveland. It all makes sense. 

But there are two more dots to connect — persistence and imagination. Our collective persistence and willingness to imagine success are what’s going to make sure this logic train doesn’t get derailed. The track is clear, the engine is strong. We just have to be willing to push the throttle forward.