Following the rejection, GBH says it is open to selling CAI’s historic Woods Hole headquarters to a community group.

CAIThe GBH-owned public radio station that covers Cape Cod and the Islands may not be moving from its beloved 19th-century headquarters in Woods Hole after all.

Two weeks after announcing the sale of the CAI building at 3 Water St., GBH now says it is willing to consider a possible conditional offer from the Woods Hole Community Association that would allow the station to remain on site.

News of the initial sale drew strong reactions from some community members, who expressed disappointment that they were not notified sooner and described a deep connection to both the radio station and the building in which it is located.

Susan Goldberg, president and CEO of GBH, acknowledged the failure in an open letter emailed Friday to CAI and Woods Hole Community Association (WHCA) staff. She expressed regret for not seeking help before plans for the initial sale were finalized.

“We have also heard from some of you who were dismayed that we were not cooperative in making decisions about selling the property,” Goldberg wrote. “For this we apologize. Our work is built on trust, and we are sorry that we let you down. We could certainly do better by sharing our needs and concerns, and hearing from you about potential solutions.”

In her statement, Goldberg also acknowledged the unique role the station plays in Woods Hole and Cape Cod.

“Many of you have shared your thoughts with us: CAI’s broadcast from House on the Hill is like a beacon, a reminder that your local radio station still exists while so many other local media outlets are disappearing,” she said.

Goldberg published her open letter after spending Thursday on Cape Cod meeting with CAI and WHCA staff in Woods Hole.

WHCA previously announced it had received nearly $2 million in commitments to finance the purchase of 3 Water St., also known as the Captain Davis House, in the event that GBH’s original sales plan falls through. The group also said that if it succeeds in acquiring the property, it will offer CAI the opportunity to remain in the premises free of charge for a certain period of time.

The WHCA will use $300,000 from its cash reserves, plus additional contributions from community members, if the sale goes through, according to Katherine Bumpus, board president of the Woods Hole Community Association. This includes $300,000 from the Woods Hole Foundation, a separate organization.

“We believe the target purchase price is very, very achievable,” Bumpus told GBH News.

After Goldberg’s statement was released, Bumpus called GBH’s willingness to consider the WHCA’s proposal “encouraging.”

“We look forward to a positive collaboration with GBH,” Bumpus said.

Lawyers say it’s more than just a building

Buying a building that is owned by GBH and then allowing CAI to remain rent-free may seem counter-intuitive. But Bumpus said both the building itself and CAI’s presence there have significant value.

The building, built in the mid-1800s, was formerly
sea ​​captain’s house. It is in a prominent location next to the Woods Hole terminal, where ferries carry passengers to Martha’s Vineyard.

“The building is located right at the entrance to the village,” Bumpus said. “This is a historical building. It’s lovingly cared for… It kind of creates a feeling when you come in or when you leave.”

“The activities that happen at the radio station create community both for the villagers and help our community reach out to the rest of the region and the rest of the world, and we really value those activities,” Bumpus added.

3 Water Street has been the home of CAI since its founding in 2000. It was also home to Atlantic Public Media, whose chief executive, Jay Ellison, was highly critical
critical initial sales plan. Allison, who was the founder of CAI, did not respond to GBH News’ request for comment.

Mindy Todd, CAI’s general manager, did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Neither did Beth Colt, a local entrepreneur.
identified Seth Rolbein of A Cape Cod Voice as the original buyer.

State media ‘face financial difficulties’

GBH’s decision to sell 3 Water Street follows a round of negotiations.
layoffs GBH earlier this year sought to close what was described as a $7 million budget gap. GBH also suspended production of three local TV shows at the time. No CAI employees were fired.

Goldberg’s open letter also details the financial pressures that forced GBH to move forward with plans to sell the building in the first place—pressure that many other public media outlets across New England and the country are also feeling.

“Public media, like all media, faces financial challenges,” Goldberg wrote.

CAI loses about $500,000 a year and has lost more than $2 million in the last five years, she said.

“GBH is responsible for these financial losses,” Goldberg wrote. “We need a new studio not only because we can’t afford to stay where we are, but also for operational reasons, including the need to upgrade our studio to meet specific broadcast standards.”

Once GBH decided to move, offers to purchase the property came quickly, Goldberg said.

“Now, if the Woods Hole Community Association comes forward with the proposal they promised, we can evaluate that as well,” she said.

Goldberg stressed that the sale of the building is not a harbinger of editorial cuts at the station. Instead, Goldberg said, “we (will) continue to create – and even expand – influential local journalism for Cape Town and the Islands and beyond.”

However, in an interview with GBH News on Tuesday, Goldberg refused to rule out further cuts at GBH, including asset sales, layoffs or pay cuts.

“I can’t predict the future,” she said. “We’re all dealing with a really difficult financial situation in media because the financial fundamentals of the traditional TV and radio business or the traditional newspaper or magazine business have changed so much over the last 20 years, but especially in the last 10 years.

“So we are no different from any other media company when we have to deal with financial issues. And we must be resilient.”

This story was reported by GBH’s Adam Reilly and edited by Connecticut Public’s Eric Aasen. No one from GBH News management was involved in editing this article or reviewed it before publication.