Cleveland and Brook Park Reach Agreement to Settle Longstanding Litigation

The City of Cleveland and the City of Brook Park are moving to end nearly a decade of legal disputes regarding the International Exposition Center (I-X Center) and the Emerald Park Joint Economic Development Zone. Through the passage of emergency ordinance 664-2026, Cleveland officials are authorized to enter into a first amendment to a 2001 settlement agreement. This agreement aims to resolve litigation that began in 2017 when Brook Park filed a complaint alleging Cleveland had defaulted on previous terms related to the expansion of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and residential acquisition programs.

The amendment settles three distinct issues: tax sharing arrangements for the I-X Center and Emerald Park, the payment of legal fees, and the future of the Residential Acquisition Program (RAP). According to the 664-2026-Legislative Summary, the city will receive all revenue from the I-X Center and Emerald Park properties. In exchange, Cleveland will pay Brook Park $2,000,000 for attorney and legal fees and costs, as well as an annual Payment in Lieu of Taxes of $650,000 for the next 33 years. The agreement also involves Cleveland conveying approximately 34 acres of real property to Brook Park. To manage these payments, the 664-2026-as amended-desk copy-Final establishes the Brook Park Settlement Special Revenue Fund (Fund No. 10 SF 989), which will hold various taxes and parking revenues derived from the I-X Center property.

This ordinance has passed, but the amendment will not become effective until the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) either approves the amendment or declines to exercise jurisdiction over it and the transfer of the real property. Residents can watch for the FAA's decision and the subsequent execution of property deeds to see when the agreement officially takes effect.

Source record

File
664-2026
Type
Emergency Ordinance
Status
Passed
Committee
City Council
Introduced
May 14, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar

Official documents