Westside Market operator absent as nonprofit requests a $783,000 support agreement

The committee considered the Westside Market general operations line in the Parks & Recreation budget. Staff explained the operating model changed in 2025 from a city management agreement to a ground lease: the Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC) now retains market income and asks for an annual support payment rather than quarterly advances.

Several council members reacted strongly that CPMC was not present to explain a 2026 support request (about $783,303). Councilman Chris Harsh urged the nonprofit’s executive director to appear: "If she's asking the city of Cleveland for $783,000 she should be at the table," he said. Members pressed staff for a snapshot of current vendor counts, parking revenue and the assumptions supporting projected future revenues (commercial kitchen rental, merchandise sales and a renovated food hall).

Staff told the committee the operator is pursuing fundraising and tax credits (staff referenced historic and new market tax credits and philanthropic commitments totaling multi‑millions for renovation stages) and that the North Arcade is slated to open in a future year. Members asked for a vendor rent schedule, current occupancy, parking revenue detail (some councilmembers said parking income is below historical levels), and a clear accounting of prior city investments (council members cited about $20 million in ARPA/capital funds). The committee requested CPMC appear at a follow‑up meeting to explain the plan and reconcile the financial model.

The council did not act on the subsidy request at the hearing; multiple members signaled they will withhold final approval until the nonprofit and MOCAP provide detailed revenue and expense reconciliations and a timetable for returning the market to break‑even operations.