KRCL breaks ground on community hub
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A rendering of KRCL's new digs. Image: Courtesy of KRCL
KRCL is launching a $7 million overhaul to transform the longtime radio station into a new community hub on the west side.
Why it matters: The renovation will expand the grassroots station, founded in 1979, into a public-facing space for emerging musicians and listeners, bringing new energy to an area that's historically seen less investment.
State of play: Plans include a 200-capacity all-ages venue, three new studios, an art gallery and a conference room.
- The venue will also host year-round dialogues, exhibits and other public events, with a focus on live music, visual arts and civic engagement.
- The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Driving the news: KRCL broke ground last Thursday, backed by local investors and a surge of individual donors who responded to pullbacks in federal funding for public media, station executive director Gavin Dahl told Axios.
Catch up quick: Dahl said the station lost $136,000 in annual funding — about 10% of its budget — after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting shut down last year following Congress' decision to cut more than $1 billion in federal support.
The big picture: KRCL's trajectory stands out as as public radio stations nationwide grapple with layoffs and financial strain tied to Trump administration-imposed cuts.
What they're saying: "We need to invest in places that will be here forever, and that's exactly what this facility will be — a permanent facility for musicians and people who love music," Chris Parker, director of Giv Group, a local developer partnering with KRCL on the project, said at the groundbreaking.