Clear Channel has approached the Downtown Business Association with plans for “Downtown Radio,” which would broadcast 1970s and 1980s music along with news about downtown events, association President John Smith told the Downtown Development District Commission this morning. The station would be accessible at 97.7 FM within 25 miles of downtown by the first quarter of next year, Smith says. Clear Channel will be discussing its plans for the new station at 5:15 p.m. today at Hotel Indigo, he says, adding that “Downtown Radio” “is something that will happen.”
Also discussed at today’s meeting:
—The DDD approved a budget of $713,520 for 2012, not counting an $82,350 surplus left over from this year. The board also approved goals for next year, which include branding and marketing of the Arts and Entertainment District, conducting a residential market analysis for developers to aid in efficient growth, and creating a design resource center at which developers and the public can converge and have access to planning documents.
—The district has been awarded a $1.9 million that will go toward the planned Downtown Greenway, which would run from Memorial Stadium, through downtown to Brooks City Park, 2.75 miles in all. Acceptance of the grant will be on the Metro Council agenda in the next few weeks, DDD Director Davis Rhorer says. The DDD has applied for another grant, but should have enough funds already to begin construction plans for the entire trail and to implement the first phase, possibly from the North Boulevard Town Square as far as Brooks City Park, Rhorer says. —David Jacobs
