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KGY moved from Waterfront Studio in Olympia

S

speer360

Continuation of this closed thread, https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/kgy-in-olympia.760870/


"The equipment is being moved to Bush Mountain Drive, near Mottman Industrial Park in Tumwater, Kerry said. The fact that broadcast equipment is being moved leads to another question: Is the radio studio, which has sat perched on the north end of the Port of Olympia peninsula since 1960, moving too? Kerry said they intend to move at the end of the year. That’s when its ground lease with the port expires. Kerry said the port has not offered a lease extension nor does he expect them to."
 
Far as I know, Semoochie, KBUP doesn't have a local studio nor any local presence. KGY continues on as a well-known brand in Oly, just on an FM translator instead of the AM stick. They don't own the calls any more, but neither can anyone else since they are only 3 letters. Everyone in town still knows of the waterfront pier studio that is the home of "KGY."
 
I'd love to see that waterfront studio turned into an Airbnb - complete with the sign on the front :)
 
This is an unfortunate story. According to the article, "...the ground lease with the port states that when the business leaves the property, it is responsible for “removing the improvements” to the land, which, according to Kerry, would mean tearing down the building east of Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill."

Really? Smaller media companies don't have a lot of spare cash sitting around as it is. The port is really going to make them foot the bill for removing the building itself? Even if it's time to leave for a different location, just let them leave gracefully without the ridiculous cost of removing a structure built on pylons (which is sure to be a massive expense).

Aside from all of that, it's a shame to see this studio go. It's worse when the building is likely to be torn down all together. It's truly a landmark of Olympia and one of the most unique broadcasting locations in the world. With all of that being said, it's not worth fighting over if the port isn't going to cooperate.
 
fordranger797 said:
Aside from all of that, it's a shame to see this studio go. It's worse when the building is likely to be torn down all together. It's truly a landmark of Olympia and one of the most unique broadcasting locations in the world. With all of that being said, it's not worth fighting over if the port isn't going to cooperate.
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It's very common for land leases to include the property being returned to its original state. Especially the case in Washington State where wetlands or water is involved.
My experience is Ports, and the folks who run it, seem to go out of their way to be complete ass*oles.
 
Kelly A said:
It's very common for land leases to include the property being returned to its original state. Especially the case in Washington State where wetlands or water is involved.
My experience is Ports, and the folks who run it, seem to go out of their way to be complete ass*oles.
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Oh yes, any structures involving wetlands or a marine ecosystem become a complete disaster. I’ve heard stories about people who construct docks, only to have to rip the entire structure out and do it over again based on pointless regulations (that seem to make no sense). The only difference here is that we’re talking about a media company who probably leased this building before they were fully aware of the future consequences. I doubt anybody thought about any of this back in the 60’s.

As for the folks behind KGY, I’d like to hope that the port could throw them a bone this one time. They’ve been great stewards of the building and have done everything asked of them for over a half century.
 
fordranger797 said:
Oh yes, any structures involving wetlands or a marine ecosystem become a complete disaster. I’ve heard stories about people who construct docks, only to have to rip the entire structure out and do it over again based on pointless regulations (that seem to make no sense). The only difference here is that we’re talking about a media company who probably leased this building before they were fully aware of the future consequences. I doubt anybody thought about any of this back in the 60’s.
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I had a friend who lived on Angle Lake that built a dock a few feet into the water. He was required by the Fish and Game dept. to put a clear Lexan window in the wider part of the dock so the fish can see daylight. You can't make this crap up.
fordranger797 said:
As for the folks behind KGY, I’d like to hope that the port could throw them a bone this one time. They’ve been great stewards of the building and have done everything asked of them for over a half century.
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But remember, Port Authorities are notoriously as*holes. I wouldn't hold my breath.
 
This is prime real estate for a Cascadia Subduction Zone-generated tsunami. Even in places like Olympia we're still talking 4'-6' waves with a massive debris field. No thank you.
 
Kelly A said:
When was that, 1971?
Yeah I know, websites didn't exist back then..
;)
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Your snark is impenetrable sometimes.

It was 2011, and the KGY building was also on the cover of my 2012 Tower Site Calendar.

www.fybush.com

Site of the Week 12/16/11: KGY, Olympia, Washington

This week’s Tower Site installment is a partial reprise of a segment that originally appeared in the column on February 9, 2007, as we were recapping the fun of our Big Trip 2006, a two-week …
www.fybush.com
 
The New Chico said:
Far as I know, Semoochie, KBUP doesn't have a local studio nor any local presence. KGY continues on as a well-known brand in Oly, just on an FM translator instead of the AM stick. They don't own the calls any more, but neither can anyone else since they are only 3 letters. Everyone in town still knows of the waterfront pier studio that is the home of "KGY."
Click to expand...
Sacred Heart bought the AM and changed the call sign. They also bought KBKW from me in Aberdeen. I asked them later for the call letters, since K-"BKW" stood for Ben K Weatherwax, the area's first news person and founder, but I was told no. (in fact, the local high school was Weatherwax High)/ The family would've liked us to use the historic call sign... I guess I should've asked during the transaction.
 
Kelly A said:
But remember, Port Authorities are notoriously as*holes. I wouldn't hold my breath.
Click to expand...
It's entities like that which make us recommend caution when government wants to expand its scope and powers.

It's like handing a stick of lit dynamite to a monkey... or a skunk.
 
bossbill said:
Sacred Heart bought the AM and changed the call sign. They also bought KBKW from me in Aberdeen. I asked them later for the call letters, since K-"BKW" stood for Ben K Weatherwax, the area's first news person and founder, but I was told no. (in fact, the local high school was Weatherwax High)/ The family would've liked us to use the historic call sign... I guess I should've asked during the transaction.
Click to expand...
Doesn’t sound very moral of them.
 
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