Denver Another Salem real-estate deal

[Mark Roberts]

Salem has been granted a CP to move, ever so slightly (57 meters), the transmitting towers for KRKS (990) and KBJD (1650) to accommodate construction of a warehouse building on the property just outside the north city-county limits of Denver. A previous CP for the move expired in December 2024. There would be no other changes to station operations.

While this doesn't appear to be an instance of building a warehouse under the towers, as was done for KFAX and KTRB in San Francisco, the following erroneous quote from the technical exhibit is notable:

The proposed daytime and critical hours 5.0 mV/m contours encompass 100% of the population/area of the city of license, San Francisco, California.

Oops. Obviously, Denver is what is meant. That copy-and-paste error does indicate that Salem is trying to maximize use of its real-estate across multiple properties.

However, there is one thing I wonder. A project such as this requires capital. Before the disposal of several FM stations to K-Love, Salem was reportedly in questionable financial condition. Now it's in better shape, but this project was on the drawing board before the sale to K-Love. So where did the capital come from? A loan (at possibly a high interest rate)? Whoever's developing the warehouse?

 

[EDwalker]

Salem has been granted a CP to move, ever so slightly (57 meters), the transmitting towers for KRKS (990) and KBJD (1650) to accommodate construction of a warehouse building on the property just outside the north city-county limits of Denver. A previous CP for the move expired in December 2024. There would be no other changes to station operations.

While this doesn't appear to be an instance of building a warehouse under the towers, as was done for KFAX and KTRB in San Francisco, the following erroneous quote from the technical exhibit is notable:



Oops. Obviously, Denver is what is meant. That copy-and-paste error does indicate that Salem is trying to maximize use of its real-estate across multiple properties.

However, there is one thing I wonder. A project such as this requires capital. Before the disposal of several FM stations to K-Love, Salem was reportedly in questionable financial condition. Now it's in better shape, but this project was on the drawing board before the sale to K-Love. So where did the capital come from? A loan (at possibly a high interest rate)? Whoever's developing the warehouse?

An educated guess would be the warehouse developer. Why would they spend their own money to move 57 meters otherwise?

 

[davideduardo]

However, there is one thing I wonder. A project such as this requires capital. Before the disposal of several FM stations to K-Love, Salem was reportedly in questionable financial condition. Now it's in better shape, but this project was on the drawing board before the sale to K-Love. So where did the capital come from? A loan (at possibly a high interest rate)? Whoever's developing the warehouse?

I suspect, as EDwalker says, that the developer included the costs in its agreement with Salem.

Still, it is likely that the cost is not great and can be payed out of operating budgets. One small tower and base, some FCC and FAA filings, perhaps a new ATU, some additional coax. The old ground can be at least partially used if not destroyed by construction and, if not, laid over the roofs of the new buildings as a counterpoise system. Again, likely paid by the developer.