ncflyer wrote:hahaha the Bibb jabbing continues-- he had absolutely positively nothing to do with the not yet approved master plan that recommends moving the rental car facility-- the plan was developed long before any of us even knew who he was. Your post raises so many issues here 1) the F9 maintenance base is just a rumor at this point anyway posted on this forum 2) if it is true, F9-- presumably they've figured out how to make room or get space 3) relocating the rental car facility doesn't have anything to do with space for aircraft maintenance.
Are you suggesting that the Sheraton be retained, that place is an absolute dump and yet another Cleveland airport embarrassment-- in fact the first one everyone sees who drives up to the airport-- needs a full interior gutting and the exterior needs an entirely new facade so it doesn't look like 1970s Soviet era architecture. Talk about throwing good money after bad.
Ah--I thought the rental car idea was his--thanks for the correction. Regarding your numbered issues: 1. I'm the one who posted the info; it came from a very informed and reliable source. 2. The statement is true--but its not a done deal yet--just like the crew domicile--so it hasn't yet officially been announced as a done deal. 3. Space at the airport--both land--and air--side is very limited. So if we place something (like the rental car garage) in one location, it limits space for other uses. For example, lets say the rental car facility goes where the old long-term garage was--which is now the Orange surface lot. If that whole ground space is taken up--whether one or 10 stories tall it prohibits moving some internal streets further north (exiting the airport) which would then allow the airfield to expand, particularly if Concourse D is eliminated and where the F9 facility could go.
Regarding the Sheraton, yes, I'm saying repurpose the bldg and modernize it while doing so. People who drive to CLE from Youngstown or Canton or Huron or Erie or wherever and have a 6am flight like to stay right at the airport then walk to catch their flight. Many other cities have hotels on their airport grounds--some even physically connected to the terminal. Repurpose the bldg---keep some floors as a hotel and other floors for other uses (temp airport/crew-related housing), offices (whether for Port control or airlines or related businesses), etc. Its cheaper to repurpose and modernize than to demolish and rebuild. It's lack of vision and good practice to tear it town and replace it with 45 parking spots.
