CBS Radio plans to move its Washington-area cluster from Lanham, Md., to the nearby Washington riverfront. The location is two blocks from the stadium where the Washington Nationals play baseball and just south of the U.S. Capitol building.
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and CBS Radio Washington, D.C. SVP/Market Manager Steve Swenson announced that CBS signed a 15-year lease with the city to move the six stations.
Construction is to begin next month and CBS officials hope it will be completed by year-end.
The broadcaster has signed a lease for a more than 33,000-square-foot space on the second floor of a building in Washington’s Southwest quadrant, near the waterfront, reports the Washington Business Journal.
CBS will join the National Labor Relations Board in the building; Prudential Real Estate Investors cited the city’s efforts to redevelop the riverfront for the recent activities in a slow real estate market, according to the account.
Mayor Gray echoed that sentiment, stating: “This move highlights the growth of the creative economy taking place in Southeast and underscores our commitment to diversifying the District’s economy. In addition to furthering the District’s economic-development strategy, CBS Radio’s six stations will create a more vibrant, active street life in the Capitol Riverfront community.”
The broadcaster will also lease roughly 3,000 feet on the ground floor of the building for a studio as well as a performance space.
The CBS Radio Washington cluster includes: WPGC(FM), WJFK(FM), WNEW(FM), WIAD(FM), WLZL(FM) and WTEM(AM).
CBS Radio’s WNEW(FM), known as “All News 99.1” and WJFK(FM), known as “106.7 The Fan” will provide news and sports content for a ticker that wraps the side of the building, reports WUSA(TV), Washington.
“This new facility will allow an unfettered look into how we operate and provide fans of our stations with the chance to meet some of the top names in the music business and our own beloved personalities,” stated Swenson.