Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 2, 1993 TAG: 9306020041
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
However, neither decision is likely to be made in time to be part of the company's capital budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in October, said Robert Lee, president and general manager of the Roanoke station.
Lee said the station, owned by Schurz Communications of South Bend, Ind., began an assessment of its physical plant several months ago.
WDBJ, which broadcasts on Channel 7, is on an acre at Brandon and Colonial avenues near Towers Shopping Center.
Lee said the facility was built in 1960 as a "50-year building, but it doesn't reflect what a TV station needs in 1993, or 2003."
The 30,000-square-foot structure houses 101 full-time and 11 part-time employees, Lee said. He said the amount of space is not as much an issue as how the space is designed. For instance, he said the 40 to 50 people involved in the station's news operation work in four separate areas.
He said a new building has been part of the station's corporate plan for several years.
Lee said he has had plenty of site suggestions and proposals from architectural firms since the station began its needs assessment.
He said one of the sites he has considered is near the Sheraton Inn Roanoke Airport near Roanoke Regional Airport.
Lee also said he has heard from some prospective users for the current building. One proposal was from a broadcaster who wanted to lease the space, but Lee said his company is not likely to be interested in leasing the property. Another proposal was from a nonbroadcaster, and Lee said he doubts the building could be converted for another type of business.
He doubts the building could be converted from another type of business.
by CNB