Building permit today for CHK to remodel that little (5,400 square feet) office building that is immediately north of Flip's.

Only for $100K, so probably just a quick re-do to house some of their employees as they have likely chased off the old tenant (Joy Reed Belt, etc.).

I'm sure that building will eventually come down, as will the larger one directly north, as it is also owned by CHK.

Will Flip's ever cave???

I hope not actually. There is a difference between hoping that CHK gets the Larson's Music building and the ugly strip malls that used to be along 63rd, and seeing Flip's sent packing. There is nothing wrong with Flip's, it's a nice restaurant, and they maintain a nice environment that looks good from Western. Going there for drinks after a cultural event downtown is part of the defining OKC experience..

I hope Flip sticks, too. It's a great little unique place with character.

However, everyone has their price and CHK usually keeps at it until they get what they want.

He he.. chk is gonna have a MUCH harder time getting the crazy lady on nw 62nd street to move... may have to wait until her house falls down around her.... Flip's I hope will survive, but it seems unlikely...

Besides the Midfirst office buildings, I think CHK is down to only two properties left to acquire south or 63rd and west of the tracks: that house on 62nd and an auto repair shop on 63rd.

I need to update my map and post it.

I just read -- even though this was reported a couple of months ago -- that CHK donated $5 million to help the Salvation Army move from their site in the middle of the proposed Central Park to NW 10th & Penn.

Not only will it provide for new facilities on the site of the old AMC / flea market, it will help clear the way for the park, which they said was a big part of their motivation.

Just wanted to give them credit for even more downtown investment and philanthropy even though their HQ is further afield.

I guess the powers that be read this thread. the cam is back up this morning.

Is there a current cam link? Too many pages to swim through to find it. Thanks.

Is there a current cam link?

http://www.smithandpickel.com/

Thanks, as always, Pete!

don't know if this has been posted or not but CHK bought 2 of the 3 remaining lots on 58th st (just south of CC and west of ballets ) they now only have 1 lot to go and they will own all of 58th st ...

they bought the 2 lots on the western end of the st for 600k and 628k ... crazy crazy money .. it will be interesting to see how long the last owner holds out

For that kind of money, I wouldn't hold out a minute. In fact, if I were living on 57th St. I'd be calling him.

For that kind of money, I wouldn't hold out a minute. In fact, if I were living on 57th St. I'd be calling him.

no doubt .. these lots were bought for between 35-70k ... they are getting a great great deal

This is from a Steve Lackmeyer interview in today's Oklahoma with Allison Oshel, director of community development for the Chamber.

It's pretty clear CHK provided big incentives to lure Whole Foods and probably Anthropologie as well. I also wouldn't be surprised if they underwrote a lot of expenses around Balliets, the restaurants and some of the other tenants in Classen Curve.


we also have the story of growing jobs, the economy, and we have the benevolence of Aubrey McClendon bringing retailers into Classen Curve that other developers might not have been able to bring in.

Read more: http://newsok.com/questions-and-answers-with-alison-oshel/article/3591724#ixzz1UAkoXWbN

I took some really awesome pics on the Chesapeake campus the other day, along with a big drive around town, so I'll post those soon as I get a chance.

Yet another building permit for the Chesapeake campus...

This time for a "Central Plant and Data Center" at the SE corner of NW62nd and Lee. This is due east of the community garden.

$3 million, 1 story, 44,900 square feet.

Perhaps the new building next to the Anthro will be a bank. I went by today on my way to the vets and saw a big overhang attached on the NW side of the building roof now. It could be a drive-through. I wonder what bank would be locating there.

The building permit was for bank or office, which is a different classification than retail. I always assumed it was for a bank.

I'm hoping it's for Bank of America and they'll be moving there from NH Tower and clear the way for CHK to buy that property and integrate it into the master plan for NH Plaza.

Did CHK not buy that property? I heard a long time ago that they did. Maybe it was an agreement to purchase once the new bank building was complete.

No, the property hasn't officially changed hands.

I'm glad you heard there was an agreement to buy because I had been speculating on that for a while. It's really the last piece of the puzzle apart from moving NH Town Hall.

Pete, I doubt it, the potential bank site seems much smaller.

metro, the bank only occupies the lower level of NH Tower.

The building under construction is actually slightly bigger than that.

Thanks for clarifying.

I just spoke with one of the chefs at Elements and he said the new modern building in the middle of campus is supposed to be open by the end of the year. It will have another restaurant and a theater like the Blue Room called the Green Room. Guess what the difference will be...

Chesapeake Energy buys two more office buildings in Oklahoma City

Chesapeake acted on an opportunity that arose when Enogex Inc., which leases almost all of Central Park Two, revealed plans to move into Leadership Square downtown when its lease expires next spring.

Read more: http://newsok.com/chesapeake-energy-buys-two-more-office-buildings-in-oklahoma-city/article/3598788#ixzz1WFz8CQcl

A new webcam has popped up for a "RTC Lab" on the SW corner of 60th & Shartel. That area was shown to be for another fitness center when they submitted PUD plans a few months ago.

Not knowing what RTC meant, I found this on their website:

"Chesapeake operates our state-of-the-art Reservoir Technology Center (RTC), which allows the company to better understand and solve the challenges of the unconventional reservoirs from which we believe vast new reserves of natural gas can be developed. By having the RTC right here on our campus, we get immediate, on-site results of core evaluations; which allows Chesapeake to continue to achieve industry-leading value creation."

I know they've started ramping up construction in that area of the campus, looks like several projects in the works.

I'm updating all my CHK maps... It's mind-boggling how much they now own, including a bunch of recently purchased office buildings (Atrium Towers, Central Park I & II, Hertz Data Center) that are far removed from their campus.

In addition, they are in the process of constructing or renovating about 10 different buildings on or directly adjacent to their campus.


One direct result of all this activity is there are virtually zero blocks of contiguous Class A space in the suburban market. Once the national economy firms up and financing isn't so tight, we are going to see more spec buildings start to go up.

Gotta spend that money. If they keep too much money in the bank it makes them an attractive target.

They just don't have enough space for all their employees.

Even when everything underway is finished, they still won't be able to consolidate them all on their campus. They simply can't build fast enough to accommodate the growth.

Of course, if they would just put up one or two taller buildings they could solve this problem but they seem to be committed to sprawling out over the better part of a square mile.

CHK has now demo'ed the other lots that they just south of classen curve... they are just 1 lot IMHO short of owning the entire block

Here are some updated maps of their holdings shown in yellow / pink; green are properties they are actively trying to acquire.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chkproperties.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chkaerial.jpg

1. MAIN CAMPUS
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk1.jpg

1A. SOUTH CAMPUS
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk1a.jpg

2. TRIANGLE AT CLASSEN CURVE
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk2.jpg

3. CLASSEN CURVE
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk3.jpg

4. WESTERN TRIANGLE
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk4.jpg

5. NICHOLS HILLS PLAZA
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk5.jpg

6. NORTH WESTERN AREA
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk6.jpg

8. NW 63RD & PORTLAND
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk8.jpg

10. CENTRAL PARK I & II
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk10.jpg

11. NW 50TH & WESTERN
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk11.jpg

Interesting that they've bought a house on the south side of 57th. That would seem to imply further plans for expansion of Classen Curve.

i wonder what they payed for that house. Maybe it was a motivated seller and they figured what the heck.

They paid $258K but that was over three years ago and they have not purchased anything other than the houses on the south side of 58th since. I suspect they were thinking about expanding further then stopped.

Several speculators have been buying houses on those other streets.

They paid $258K but that was over three years ago and they have not purchased anything other than the houses on the south side of 58th since. I suspect they were thinking about expanding further then stopped.

Several speculators have been buying houses on those other streets.

they now have a signed agreement with the neighborhood HOA that they will not expand south of the mid 58th/57th block .. so they really only have 1 final house to buy on that street

this is good to see. I posted a thread in the out-of-I44 forum about my hood (Meadowbrook Acres) and the rash of razing that's going on. I'm not cool with the parking lot that replaced 2 homes and an empty lot on 58th. 2 empty lots next to me at the moment, if that becomes a lot I'll resort to some pain in the arse (and futile) protest on it for sure.

otherwise love what CHK is doing in the area, even if it is, by Spartan's standards, a semi-suburban campus, which I agree with. Would love to see it fully sidewalked, and even integrated with the 5 bus that handily connects it to downtown.

If CHK would work on developing homes East to 235, east of Shartel I'm guessing, and then working up a local tram or trolley, sidewalking it all, it would be a great place to live and visit, and set the tone for some other outer portions of the city (I've always loved old Britton as a place for this too).

How cool would it be if CHK were to start their own modern streetcar route, servicing their campus and retail developments?

Also the CHK streetcar could be fueled by natural gas, further promoting the use as a transportation fuel source. If anyone could do this you know it would be Chesapeake.

How cool would it be if CHK were to start their own modern streetcar route, servicing their campus and retail developments?

Also the CHK streetcar could be fueled by natural gas, further promoting the use as a transportation fuel source. If anyone could do this you know it would be Chesapeake.

I think they already have some buses or sponsor a route.

What I thought was going to be an overhang for a drivethrough at the "bank" at the third building in the Classen Triangle is now supported by an upside-down tripod of huge steel beams. They seem to remove the possibility of it being functional at all, save perhaps for shade. So again, who knows what that building's purpose is. It again looks like a very large retail space. They've got the large sign for The Triangle up as well. Maybe someone with a good camera can take some photos.

i noticed last week that CHK is demoing the 2 west lots just south of 58th ... the "hold out" .. will now be the only house on that block

They also recently leased 12,000 square feet in the Caliber Center, that silver glass building on NW Expressway just west of Portland.

Despite all their campus construction, they still have tons of employees spread all over NW OKC.

Also formerly known as the Hertz financial building if that helps anybody.

I think they already have some buses or sponsor a route.

Yes, I have seen their people transports dropping off and picking up between buildings. Haven't seen them off the campus though.

I would love to jump on a LNG powered streetcar at the NH Starbucks, ride over to Republic for lunch then get dropped off at WF's for grocery shopping.

Let's go CHK, make this happen!

I thought this was an interesting choice of words, although I suppose it could be totally innocent. I'm still really curious about the building next to Anthropologie.

The Oklahoma City store [Whole Foods] will anchor the Triangle at Classen Curve; the other confirmed tenant is Anthropologie, a women's clothing retailer, which is expected to open in February.



Read more: http://newsok.com/whole-foods-announces-oklahoma-city-opening-date/article/3602242#ixzz1XQNr7Dqy

Aubrey understands inertia. I have no particular private knowledge, but you can expect that there is a very aggressive plan to create a mass of higher end specialty stores on their properties, and I would guess a department store at some point...maybe in the area which is now Nichols Hills Plaza. Aubrey is a gambler and a visionary, but as opposed to most visionaries, he works to make his vision happen and puts his money where his mind is. Other visionaries tend to be dreamers.

There are now six identical doors in the back of the big building next to Anthro. They look like loading doors for retail businesses, but I guess we'll see.

New webcam of the central plant posted
http://oxblue.com/pro/open/smithandpickel/chesapeakecentralplant

New webcam of building 1 was just posted. That makes 8 buildings/garages currently under construction not including construction of whole foods,compass manufacturing, and midcon compression.

http://oxblue.com/pro/open/smithandpickel/chesapeake1

From the DOK: The Oklahoma City store will be the first tenant in The Triangle at Classen Curve, a shopping center developed by Chesapeake Energy Corp.



Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-new-whole-foods-is-green-from-the-ground-up/article/3606338#ixzz1Ygak6jiO

So, I was told that an upscale liquor store, with very high end wines, is going into that building adjacent to Anthropologie. My previously reliable source also said an "expensive furniture store" is going in as well, but then thought he might have confused it with Anthropologie. So, sounds like the liquor store is for sure and the furniture store is a maybe.

Liquor store would make sense. Doesn't seem like there would be enough floor space for a furniture store.

I don't really know what kind of square footage is required for either. The building is 16,000 square feet, which seems awfully big for a liquor store alone. I also heard an interesting tid bit today. I heard that Whole Foods will be charged nominal rent on their building until the liquor laws are changed to allow wine and beer to be sold there. Don't know if that's true or not.

We know that Chesapeake provided significant financial incentives to lure Whole Foods, we just don't know the particulars.

Also, there may be a liquor store to come at Classen Curve but I highly doubt that third building to the far west will be it because: 1) it's 16,000 square feet, which is enormous (Byron's is only 10,000 sq.ft.); 2) the classification listed on the building permit was for office/bank, not retail; and 3) there has been no license issued for anywhere near that area in several years.

I know, but my source is the same one who told me Whole Foods was going in where it is before anyone else knew for certain, and he also confimed the Anthropologie information that I had at the start of the year. And, I would have said something earlier, but this source is the most reliable: I'd heard the liquor store info from two other people over the last two weeks, which is why I checked with him. He did say there will be something else, or other things going in that space, and there are six doors on the back of the building, which suggests that's the case. As I said, he intially said, "an expensive furniture store" is going in that space too, but then thought he might have confused that with Anthropologie.

I haven't seen much what this building looks like during its construction but id say its a safe bet it is a multi tenant building. Of the stores that the triangle at cc is trying to attract, I know there arent many retailers that need/want that much space. 16,000sf is quite a bit of space.

I would agree that it is a multi-tenant building. It's pretty wide and not very deep with quite a few doors out the back (maybe 8)

I didn't realize that third building is going to be multi-tenant.

As I mentioned, the building permit stipulated office/bank, not retail. However, because it is part of a PUD, that designation probably doesn't mean much, in that they have advance approval for all types of uses.

Any chance for Nordstrom Rack?

Building permit issued today for the area near that third building for a carport/canopy.

Car wash....