SOUTHLAKE -- Television personality and political commentator Glenn Beck plans to move his media production studios into the former Gateway Church building on Southlake Boulevard.
Mercury Radio Arts, Beck's production company, submitted a zoning change to convert the building into space for GBTV.com and other Glenn Beck media."My understanding is it's going to be his national broadcast headquarters," Mayor John Terrell said.Josh Raffel, a spokesman for Mercury Radio Arts, said Beck is considering buying the building from Gateway.The proposal will go before the Planning and Zoning Commission at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and then to the City Council on Nov. 1 for the first of two readings.GBTV.com is a subscriber-based website that streams shows from Beck and other shows. The production is currently done in New York City, but Beck has announced his intentions to move to Texas and has leased a house in Westlake.Gateway Church moved out of the 60,774-square-foot building a year ago to a much larger campus on Texas 114. The Southlake Boulevard building includes a 16,873-square-foot auditorium that seats 1,700 people. The zoning proposal indicates that a live audience would be present for some TV tapings.An 8-foot fence will surround the facility, and select parking lots would be secured with gates.A handful of residents showed up to learn more about Beck's proposal Monday evening at a Southlake Program for the Involvement of Neighborhoods meeting.John Taylor, whose home backs up to the property, said he's concerned about having security on-site for Beck because his opinions are controversial."We may love him dearly, but there are a lot of people who don't," he said.Joe Kerry, Beck's chief of staff, said there would be on-site security.Nicholas Sakelaris, 817-431-2231Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
