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.
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 be