KPLC announces plans to rebuild at downtown location

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) - KPLC and FOX29 are staying downtown.

KPLC General Manager John Ware on Thursday announced plans to rebuild at KPLC’s current location, at 320 Division Street. The building is also home to FOX29, KPLC’s partner station.

KPLC’s 400-foot transmission tower fell on the building during Hurricane Laura in August 2020, causing significant damage to the studio.

Over the past two years, KPLC and Gray Television have been working on a plan forward, considering whether to build in a new location or rebuild and repair the Division Street location - the only home KPLC has ever known in its 65 years.

“It’s been our privilege to be located in the hub of the hub city of Southwest Louisiana, in downtown Lake Charles,” Ware said. “We serve all of Southwest Louisiana, but it’s been very convenient for us to be downtown as an operating base to go throughout our community.

“Today, I’m proud and privileged to let you know that Gray Television is making an investment in this location. We will be rebuilding and staying right here in downtown Lake Charles.”

Ware said KPLC and Gray Television worked to design a building that will better protect its employees, be a facility in which employees will be proud to work, a facility that the city will be proud to have and one that will help KPLC serve the community.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said it was important to the downtown community for KPLC to rebuild in its current location.

“We got to a point today where there was a group commitment to come back and reinvest in what has been a historic location and a very important anchor for downtown Lake Charles,” Hunter said. “KPLC has been a trusted source of news and updates in this community since 1954. Through coverage of triumphs and tragedy, KPLC has kept us up to date over six decades.

“It’s an important thing when new companies come into Lake Charles, it’s also an important thing when existing companies make the decision to reinvest and retain jobs in Lake Charles.”

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