This week, Cleveland officials held a press conference to announce the new vision for an abandoned Huntington Bank Field. A local design consultant released plans for a mixed-use landfill, featuring mountains of garbage, 15 below market-rate apartments, a wastewater splash pad, and some retail. The total cost of the project will be near $500 million and will pull from the taxpayer funds initially offered to the multi-billionaires, Jimmy & Dee Haslam.

“We have commitments from local small businesses to fill concession stands, including a new Hooples location—aptly named Pooples,” said Cleveland’s Director of Development. 

The Brown’s Field to Brownfield initiative is set to kick off this summer with a Dumpfest, where residents are encouraged to drop their household waste, old furniture, and tires at the stadium. 

The press release clarified the timeline for this transition. 

“Skip the trails and public parks- instead, bring your trash down to the stadium! While we were initially planning the kickoff for after the Brown’s had stopped playing at the lakefront location, last season showed us that was not necessary and we could start dumping now.” 

In preparation, Mayor Bibb is seeking Council approval to enter into a $215,000 contract with Febreze to supply plug-in air fresheners to City Hall. 

“We are anticipating a 700% increase in foul smelling air circulating our vents, and we cannot afford any further loss in worker morale.” 

Other stakeholders see this initiative as key to achieving their long-range goals.

“We are excited to reduce the Waterfront Line to one trip per year, just to service the annual EPA environmental review visit. We anticipate that by the year 2040, the EPA will have been dismantled so that the route can be permanently retired,” said a spokesperson for the GCRTA. 

So far, residents have expressed support for the plan, as the new use will not be significantly different than the current one. However, residents are organizing in opposition of the proposed Febreze contract, citing “frivolous government spending” as their primary concern. City Hall will consider building a dome to contain the pollution and odor, so long as taxpayers approve a billion dollar levy to do so.