Cincinnati Public Radio relocates headquarters neighboring Xavier’s campus

By Clare McKinley, Staff Writer

Cincinnati Public Radio WVXU and WGUC’s new building has begun construction near campus on Dana Avenue.

After outgrowing their current space, Cincinnati Public Radio began looking for a new place to set up their headquarters. The new location is just west of I-71 on Dana Avenue, a walkable distance from Xavier’s campus. 

Cincinnati Public Radio CEO Richard Eiswerth said that many factors went into the decision to relocate, closeness to Xavier being one of them.

“The reason we’re moving to the location in Evanston is because it’s a diverse area, and it’s up-and-coming. It is a neighborhood as opposed to where we are right now, which is developing more and more along the lines of a commercial marketplace and sports complex. So, we wanted to be part of a neighborhood, and of course, its proximity to Xavier is a plus,” Eiswerth said.

With the radio station so close to Xavier’s campus, there have been discussions of potential internships.

“We do have internship programs with each of the major local universities… We have a close relationship with Xavier, and we intend to maintain that. And certainly, just as we’ve had the student interns from Xavier in the past, we were hoping that being so close will make it even easier for more students to participate,” Eiswerth said.

Sophomore Digital Innovation, Film and Television major Hailey Lemire shared her thoughts on the relocation.

“It will be nice to have something so accessible and close for students to have internships especially for arts majors. I feel like sports majors and nursing majors get all of that in close proximity and they can work on campus, but for us it is very difficult. I mean, you essentially need a car for our major,” Lemire said. “And honestly I think it could help get enrollment up for the arts programs here if we have that resource so close.”

Cincinnati Public Radio plans to extend its reach by engaging with the local community in Evanston. The new building will contain a free podcast studio that will be available for Xavier students and the public to use.

After working with the Evanston Community Council and attending their council meetings, Eiswerth and Cincinnati Public Radio are looking forward to sponsoring events and cultivating community engagement.

“We will be immediately adjacent to Evanston Park. We want to be able to sponsor celebrations not only inside the building because we have a large gathering space, but because it is immediately proximate to the park, we can literally open up the building and have events spill into the park next door,” Eiswerth said. “We plan to be able to be in conjunction with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, sponsor festivals, and concerts in the park and I think the neighborhood will enjoy that.”

After six years of searching for the right location, construction is anticipated to be completed in March of 2025.

“Once we move in, we’ll have an open house and invite the neighborhood and certainly encourage everybody from Xavier to stop by as well,” Eiswerth said.