RSS FeedIs NPR Moving Away From Penn Quarter?
Anon sends in this pointer to a Washington Business Journal article:
- National Public Radio is looking for a new headquarters. The network wants nearly 400,000 square feet of office and studio space to consolidate the offices it currently has in D.C. and make room for digital media programs proposed for the future.
Radio waves: National Public Radio plans to sell its current headquarters on Massachusetts Avenue NW for larger space somewhere in the Washington area.
When NPR opened up shop in Penn Quarter, the neighborhood was not nearly as developed as it is now.
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the building is in the central business district, and always has been and always will be in the central business district. before NPR it was the american security bank offices. npr has been there almost 10 years now and will not be moving until 2011. plenty of time to find a new spot near georgetown law school.
rr 446 – I like your optomism they will be staying. It is too bad they were unable to start this process a few years ago when land and construction costs were less expensive. 2011 is going to be here very soon! I can only assume they’d name the new building after Joan Kroc, whose gift I hope has made NPR’s plans more ambitious.
Speaking of Radio One, rr446, groundbreaking was supposed to occur last month. Any word on when we’ll see progress on that project?
I was watching DC Channel 13 on the net when the DC Council was in a hearing with NCRC, and they were reviewing the major projects under NCRC’s control. The Radio One project has a funding gap because of the high affordable housing requirements that are a part of the project. The developers and NCRC are working to close that funding gap. It is unclear when they will break ground on the project.
I hope NPR decides to stay in DC and relocates to Near Southeast or even the Washington Gateway project planned near the NY Ave Metro stop in NoMa. XM Satellite Radio is also in that area. The land that the NPR building sits on is zoned for a much higher density than what is there now, including the parking lots on the site that face 6th Street. But, they are saying that they feel no particular attachment to stay in DC at this point.
Um – NPR is not in Penn Quarter. I like how the term Penn Quarter has spread to basically include anything east of the Convention Center. Call it that if you want, that ain’t Penn Quarter.
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I’ve often thought that their current space doesn’t enliven the streetscape as much as it could. I hope they stay in the area but find/build digs that give them a greater presence in the surrounding neighborhood.