Radio One Eyes Move Back to Washington

Radio One would like to move back to Washington, where the company began 24 years ago. The company moved to nearby Prince George’s County years ago.
According to the Washington Post, CEO Al Liggins III is lobbying city officials to support a plan to move his headquarters to a site near Howard University.
The Post says Radio One wants to build an office building with 76,000 square feet of space at the corner of Seventh and S Streets NW. He told the newspaper he’s asking the city for financial incentives and will need the approval of a development group.
A city official described discussions as in the early stages. Liggins said the company must also consider it has a nine-year lease in Lanham, Md.
The site is a vacant lot in an area enjoying some rebirth; Radio One would be near the historically black Howard University and the historical African-American community along U Street. If Radio One moves, it will also be located near XM Satellite Radio.
Radio One recently agreed to buy 51% of privately held Reach Media Inc. for about $56.1 million in cash and stock, thus adding the “Tom Joyner Morning Show” to its holdings.