Representatives from JACK Entertainment told the city Thursday that the overhead walkway they propose to interface the downtown JACK Casino with the old May Co. parking structure would assume an essential role in revitalizing a “dormant” some portion of Ontario Street.

By spanning Ontario Street between Public Square and Prospect Avenue, the walkway would likewise make 70,000 square feet of office space in the upper floors of the notable Higbee Building that houses the gambling club alluring for renting, Len Komoroski, a principal in JACK Entertainment, told a design-review panel.

The simple access to parking would bring new businesses into that space that would thusly help “redevelop and spark activity in this stretch of Ontario” said Komoroski, who additionally is CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Thursday’s discussion of the walkway came during a meeting before Cleveland Planning Commission’s Downtown|Flats Design Review Advisory Committee.

The zone between Public Square and Prospect Avenue is only a square west of the thriving East Fourth Street entertainment region yet has encountered little development since the 2012 opening of the casino across the street.

Be that as it may, Cavs proprietor Dan Gilbert and his family of companies is in a situation to drive development in the region.

They effectively possess a significant part of the property on the east side of Ontario, including the May Co. carport, which is focused for a $35-million update.

They likewise possess the May Co. Building, which fronts on Euclid Avenue, and an adjoining building that fronts on Ontario. Both are adjacent to the garage.

Crosswise over Ontario Street, notwithstanding the previous Higbee Building, Gilbert’s group possesses the Avenue at Tower City and the previous mail station between Huron Road and Prospect.

Furthermore, through the Cleveland Cavaliers, Gilbert oversees Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Gilbert companies have put about $1.6 billion into a territory that currently represents around 4,500 jobs, said Gino Del Pup, a VP for JACK Entertainment.

The board of trustees affirmed the schematic audit of the walkway idea, which will be taken up Friday by the full Planning Commission. Engineering renderings portray the walkway as an open glass structure that associates the carport to the third degree of the Higbee Building.

JACK will in any case need to come back to the board of trustees to get endorsement of its last structures and after that get full Planning Commission endorsement before it can continue.

And keeping in mind that individuals from the committee disparaged the pedestrian bridge that crosses Ontario to the south of the proposed walkway, associating the casino with its parking garage, they for the most part were satisfied with the idea for the new bridge.

The Design Advisory Committee gave its underlying endorsement with certain stipulations.

At the point when JACK comes back to get endorsement of its last plans, the committee needs to see a definite plan for the road, given that Gilbert’s companies have control of about all the property, including streetscaping enhancements.

The committee additionally needs a gander at designs for upgrading the May Co. carport, including work that will supplant some bond dividers with a glass façade.

The bridge can’t convey any publicizing signs.

The committee requested that JACK have discussions with RTA about improving exchange stops as a feature of a streetscape improvement.

The last review could happen not long from now, depending upon how quick the company can set up its introductions.

The bridge additionally would need support from the mayor’s office and Cleveland City Council.