Any guesses on what they'll do with the land?

More dorms? Invite only retail? Just approve it and move on...

;)

That's very interesting. Can't imagine what they'd be doing there considering there doesn't seem to be any immediate plans for all the property they own around it.

Seems like before they got a demolition permit they'd have to submit plans for what they are going to put in it's place.

Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=N+Western+Ave,+Oklahoma+City,+Oklahoma,+Oklahoma ,+United+States&sll=41.909165,-87.687136&sspn=0.020089,0.037594&ie=UTF8&cd=2&geocode=0,35.560900,-97.531245&ll=35.534894,-97.528344&spn=0.002746,0.006781&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=35.534163,-97.529779&panoid=vjrO9wcFByuTI3zmEnB0bg)

Just a look at the campus.. if i'm correct that is.

Chesepeake's purchase of huge areas of the city reminds me of very similar events in Detroit in the late 80s (I lived there at that time). Both Chrysler and GM were buying up all the real estate around their headquarters and bulldozing eveything. I moved away before these projects were finished, so I don't know how they turned out. But, during the process, there were large areas of the city that looked like farm fields.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/General_Motors_building_089833pv.jpg

GM's old headquarters; now called Cadillac Place.
Courtesy of Wikipedia

Isn't this the property on the left? I don't think they are doing anything with the properties around it in the immediate future.

http://www.pc78.com/images/okctalk/6205nwgrand.jpg

Perhaps that is where they are planning to move Hahn Cook Funeral Home (shown on the lower right of the aerial above)?

I would really like for Chesapeake to just show some conceptual plans to the general public. I also wonder why there is no possibility to have a branch of their headquarters in downtown. They can still grow on the northside, but they could have also have a campus downtown that would cater to specific purposes. I know its not very economical. Seperating a campus by several miles. But I don't like the huge expansion, of their current campus, horizontally. Kinda off topic, I know.

Also... don't use googlemaps. Their satellite images are severely outdated. Livemaps.com (http://www.Maps.Live.com) has recently updated satellite images for OKC. It also has the aerial view function....back to topic.

That's not google.

Tell me where I said it was. I never said that.

FYI, I was actually referring to mmonroe's post up further on the page. Its not relevant anyway. Was it really necessary to waste a post because you felt the need to falsely correct me when in fact, you didn't even know what I was talking about? No more of those.

The following is from a PDF file forwarded to me by an anonymous person.

It is a rough CHK campus masterplan and is dated 6/23/2008.

It appears that yellow is office and purple is retail. As far as the orange and red-orange buildings show west of Western, I'm not sure if that is office or residential. I suspect the red-orange buildings might be taller than the others.

Some interesting things to note:

1. The original "cottages" in the center of campus to give way to athletic field.
2. Looks like zero retail for the parcel on the SWC of 63rd & Western.
3. You can't see it in this JPG but in the PDF there is lettering for the properties just east of Classen Curve that show possible retail and motel uses.
4. Of course, they own virtually everything else in the aerial but they aren't elaborating on any of that (like NH Plaza) at this point.

http://www.pc78.com/images/okctalk/chkcampus3.jpg

Here's more of a closeup of the central area where you can make out more of the detail:

http://www.pc78.com/images/okctalk/chkcampusb2.jpg

Tell me where I said it was. I never said that.

FYI, I was actually referring to mmonroe's post up further on the page. Its not relevant anyway. Was it really necessary to waste a post because you felt the need to falsely correct me when in fact, you didn't even know what I was talking about? No more of those.

The first thing most of us have to do is figure out what you are talking about, so don't be so touchy.

When you have "architect" in your name it engenders suspicion

I am amused at how everyone demands to know up to the minute what Chesapeake intends to do, like it is their right to do so. If there is fear of progress or development, go buy the land and plan to do something with it yourself.

The truth is, Chesapeake has increased the value of EVERYONE's property in the immediate area. Nichols Hills Plaza has been steadily deteriorating for quite awhile as the old owners as well as many in the area were content to keep collecting rents without improving the properties. At least Chesapeake is willing to invest to make it a better place.

If Chesapeake kept an open book on all their real estate plans, many, many others would rush out and try to beat them to ownership of the properties to hold them and force them to pay exhorbitant rates. They wouldn't add value, just try to leech off of CP's plans.

The first thing most of us have to do is figure out what you are talking about, so don't be so touchy.

When you have "architect" in your name it engenders suspicion

lol. How so? But it really shouldn't matter because it obviously has nothing to do with this thread topic.

I think this is actually really good for Chesapeake. If this is real that is. But... one things that bothers me. I don't think theres a lot of retail. Perhaps some of those red and orange buildings are mixed-use?

Yea, Pete, I think the red ones represent taller buildings because some are directly in the middle which makes me think its Chase style. A large rectangle 3 story base with the skyscraper coming out of the middle. It also looks like they have balconies.

I am amused at how everyone demands to know up to the minute what Chesapeake intends to do, like it is their right to do so. If there is fear of progress or development, go buy the land and plan to do something with it yourself.

Never question Big Money. Never question Big Business. Never question Monopoly Power in a neighborhood. Only question -- Big Government. That's it, right?

Why question CHK? Because that entire area is part of our community. It's not like they own but a few lots and we're suggesting they be told what to do with it. Rover, they have bought an entire neighborhood of our city! Yet, you opine that we have no right to ask questions?

It's our city and you're damn right we can (and should) ask questions - we would be lazy citizens were we not to.

Some of us prefer not to bow to corporate power and just sit back and watch while they perform their "magic." In my lifetime I've seen literally hundreds of towns, and some large cities, allow one or two corporations to basically monopolize their city. It's all nice and wonderful for awhile. But then - if profits are to be found elsewhere, they'll chase them down across the globe and leave these towns and cities like ghost towns. ZERO responsibility and ZERO remorse. It's all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$. ALWAYS. Yes, we must ask questions when an entire neighborhood is bought up by a single corporate entity. I can't believe you're suggesting we should just kick back and watch the show.

Everyone can question all they want. It is just amusing the level of paranoia people have and how they DEMAND to know everything without actually being involved in any process. People want to criticize others who are willing to put up money to make this a better city but aren't willing to take chances to build anything themselves...heck, half of the then aren't even willing to improve their own yards and houses.

Chesapeake has built a quality campus and has spurred other quality development. They took a stagnant area in a key part of town and invested 10s of millions of dollars. They have made every house in a mile radius worth more money. Their development at 63rd and Western spurred development along Grand over to Penn Square Mall. 63rd and Broadway Ext will boom once the interchange is done, thanks to the investments they have made. Nichols Hills Plaza was losing tenants and struggling and they are willing to make it a first class destination center. They want to add affortable and high end housing in an area that has been run down businesses and small steel building warehouses along North Classen.

Yeah, I can see why people are suspicious and want to control them. What will Chesapeake do next....donate to some charity in the city? Heaven forbid! Guess we should make then only donate to the ones WE want. :(

Here's more of a closeup of the central area where you can make out more of the detail:

http://www.pc78.com/images/okctalk/chkcampusb2.jpg

The southeast portion of the athletic field shows "4100 Museum." I wonder what that means. I have heard from numerous people that A.M. is building a wine museum (may house more than that) that is shaped like a giant wine barrel. For those of you that don't know, he is one of the nation's largest collectors of fine wines. He even owns some vineyards himself. Personally, I thought the museum would be cooler by Pops and the tree farm.

I really, really, really like what he is doing.

That actually says "6100 Museum" -- it shows up better on the PDF.

Have no idea what it is.

The southeast portion of the athletic field shows "4100 Museum." I wonder what that means. I have heard from numerous people that A.M. is building a wine museum (may house more than that) that is shaped like a giant wine barrel. For those of you that don't know, he is one of the nation's largest collectors of fine wines. He even owns some vineyards himself. Personally, I thought the museum would be cooler by Pops and the tree farm.

I really, really, really like what he is doing.



This museum is going to be a CHK museum. Aubrey has stated he'd like to save the 6100 building (where the company started) and has even hired a company historian to begin collecting memorabilia. He is definitely not putting a huge wine barrel museum in the middle of a corporate campus.

If this is really an official plan its strange they would mislabel the building as 4100 when its actually 6100??

A quonset hut-appearing structure is under construction east of Classen between Wilshire & 63rd, and is reportedly for wine storage.

Thanks for the clarification, sd. As stated above, the plan actually does say 6100 not 4100.

Also, does anybody have insight into what the buildings west of Western will be? I doesn't look like offices, so I have to assume residential and some hotel space.

Thanks for the clarification, sd. As stated above, the plan actually does say 6100 not 4100.

Also, does anybody have insight into what the buildings west of Western will be? I doesn't look like offices, so I have to assume residential and some hotel space.



The hotel site is set for the old Tapwerks triangle. Last I heard the land west of Western was going to be mixed use with residential, retail, and office space (both for CHK and other companies).

He is definitely not putting a huge wine barrel museum in the middle of a corporate campus.

But apparently he is putting one close, says OKCTalker: "A quonset hut-appearing structure is under construction east of Classen between Wilshire & 63rd, and is reportedly for wine storage."

I was wrong about the museum thing. It is just for personal use it appears.

I went through the CHK campus last week and drove through the area east of Classen, marked on the master plan as "Possible Chesapeake Development". They are moving dirt over there but there isn't any actual construction. That is a hill that rises above the rest of the city above where the BNSF tracks run next to it just south of NW 63rd and north of I-44. There is one of the best skyline views I've seen up there so whatever they end up building will have some great views. I can only hope it includes housing.

Two things I'd like to see:
1) Planning for a commuter rail station for the Edmond-Norman line at the tracks at NW 63rd or slightly south with a parking garage (for commuters) and dense housing to the west of the tracks toward CHK. Plan for some kind of well-landscaped link from the station into the campus like at NW 62nd. Create an area for retail/restaurants along NW 63rd between the tracks and Classen.

2) Extend Classen south from where it currently curves at NW 59th all the way to Grand connecting to the offramp at I-44. That offramp is confusing and could be a better "gateway" to CHK and surrounding development if you could go straight through on Classen instead of having to turn on Grand.

http://www.pc78.com/images/okctalk/chkcampus3.jpg

That is a hill that rises above the rest of the city above where the BNSF tracks run next to it just south of NW 63rd and north of I-44. There is one of the best skyline views I've seen up there so whatever they end up building will have some great views. I can only hope it includes housing.

I had noticed this a few weeks back as well. The dirt pile is right under the M of OKCTalk.com in the map. It's already up on a hill, plus the dirt pile rises up even higher. GREAT place for residential. Stellar views of both of our skylines. I wanted to drive or walk up to the top, but it was getting late, and I was alone and didn't think it was a good idea. I'll try to get up there soon and take some pics.

Never question Big Money. Never question Big Business. Never question Monopoly Power in a neighborhood. Only question -- Big Government. That's it, right?

Why question CHK? Because that entire area is part of our community. It's not like they own but a few lots and we're suggesting they be told what to do with it. Rover, they have bought an entire neighborhood of our city! Yet, you opine that we have no right to ask questions?

It's our city and you're damn right we can (and should) ask questions - we would be lazy citizens were we not to.

Some of us prefer not to bow to corporate power and just sit back and watch while they perform their "magic." In my lifetime I've seen literally hundreds of towns, and some large cities, allow one or two corporations to basically monopolize their city. It's all nice and wonderful for awhile. But then - if profits are to be found elsewhere, they'll chase them down across the globe and leave these towns and cities like ghost towns. ZERO responsibility and ZERO remorse. It's all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$. ALWAYS. Yes, we must ask questions when an entire neighborhood is bought up by a single corporate entity. I can't believe you're suggesting we should just kick back and watch the show.

In the United States, we have private property. The neighborhood and property CHK has purchased is not collectively owned. It was owned by private individuals and sold for a pretty penny to an owner who can and will do whatever it wants to do with the property subject to zoning, etc.

That's CHK's right.

Whether the city is better or worse off with a sprawling, beautiful corporate campus in that area is a matter of opinion. I can almost guarantee you though that the tax dollars generated by that campus will be nothing to sneeze at and will ultimately benefit all of Oklahoma City by padding the city coffers, which will in turn enhance our ability to provide services to all of the people rather than benefiting the NIMBYs living in the Nichols Hills area.

For all your shrill collectivist notions, you apparently can't see past the nose on your face. What CHK is doing, whether intentional or not, is a good thing for the folks in Nichols Hills just as it is good for the fine people living in the NE or SW parts of town.

Does anyone know what they're building at 67th and Classen? Its a half cylinder shaped building that just has the frame up right now. Is this even Chesapeakes property?

Wine cellar for AKM...amazing collection.

Tuck, Aubrey is building a private wine cellar for his personal use on commercial property?

.oO(he's the BMOC. Maybe he spends more time there than home?)Oo.

Ahh, I guess AKM is his initials. I was confused at first. So he's building a private wine cellar with, um, private money?

Curious, I looked around a little and found this, which I believe is the cellar we speak of:
Vintrust Home (http://www.vintrust.com/vintrust/index.aspx)
Vintrust About Team (http://www.vintrust.com/vintrust/about/team.aspx#bod3)

Tuck, Aubrey is building a private wine cellar for his personal use on commercial property?

I'm not sure how this property is CURRENTLY zoned, but there will be a wine cellar there.

There was a small office building that had been on that land that was demolished in 2007.

The ownership of it now says "OKC Wine Management LLC".

There ya have it!!!

i heard rumors that the property that you are referring to is a cellar and garage for his cars.

Yesterday afternoon the OKC City Council voted unanimously to allow CHK to close NW 60th street so they can begin construction on the new Day Care Center.

CHK arrived with their posse, complete with a young woman due to have her child in 10 days. What a trooper. The CHK spin-mistress spoke in no uncertain terms about the rosy future of CHK, and how none of their expansion plans had changed. Dennis Box opined as to how great a neighbor CHK has been to the remaining residents of the neighborhood.

The folks that came to discuss the street closing were given their time at the podium, but it was clear that the outcome had been predetermined. It was interesting to note that Mick Cornett had no answer to the question of what would happen to the street if CHK was unable or unwilling to build their day care center.

The entire thing is on the OKC website. I especially like to listen to the City Council member's responses.

I certainly hope CHK can get back on track... I've heard guesses from 7 to 10 years before they can continue the expansion they had planned...

I don't want to go back to 1980 again..

TV Commercials | Chesapeake - Doing the Nation a World of Good (http://www.chk.com/p/535/Default.aspx)

Check out the "What If" commercial at the bottom. I saw this on Fox News or MSNBC or somesuch the other day. It looks really nice.

The "boathouse" spot has some really good OKC footage.

Fox reported last night that many investors believe Chesapeake will be bought soon.

I doubt that will happen. CHK is in so much debt. Nobody wants to take on all of that with gas prices in the Mid-Continent in the $3 range.

Fox reported last night that many investors believe Chesapeake will be bought soon.

I hope not, and God forbid they do, I hope the new owners would keep them in OKC.

Regardless of whether Chesapeake gets purchased by someone else or not, don't you think it'll rebound at some point? It seems to me that it HAS to unless we suddenly wean ourselves off oil and gas...and I don't see that happenin' any time soon.

The Wall Street Journal had an article about BP yesterday, which said they were not interested in purchasing Chesapeake. They're the company I'd heard might be most likely to do so.

Well that's good to hear. I've also heard ExxonMobil, but that's been rumored for years...

The Yahoo message boards have BP and Encana making offers.

The only thing I see is BP possibly buying up assests from the company, not the company itself. Also, CHK has secured a pretty sizeable line of credit.

CHK is looking to sell some of it's assets and I think some people are confusing that with selling the entire company.

Their stock is way up today, as is Devon's.

CHK is looking to sell some of it's assets and I think some people are confusing that with selling the entire company.

Their stock is way up today, as is Devon's.

Aubrey leveraged his position to ensure that a) CHK would be protected from takeover and (b to maintain control to execute his vision. But now we have ~33M shares swirling around, at a tiny fraction of PE. This kind of blood in the water can draw sharks.

Having said that, any entity looking to take over CHK would not only be saddled with debt, but would also have to contend with a partially completed campus and a somewhat non-traditional Corporate culture. Yet, CHK lists some 30B+ in real assests, less ~12B in market cap + (some amount) of debt.

And their proprietary technology. CHK is a leader in some of the most technically challenging techniques in the business. It is not impossible that another buyer might emerge, one that would be quite happy to dump all of the assets, yet keep the tech. Who would have this kind of money?

China.

Maybe the Wildcat cafe should start keeping Bak Choy, squid and dog handy. You know, just in case.

Anyone know what the new glass bldg. on campus is?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2978963068_91cf4371ec.jpg?v=1225128640

I believe that is an addition to the fitness center.

I was poking around Rand Elliott's website and found images for two more proposed buildings on the CHK campus.

The first three are for 'Building One' shown in the campus plan below as light blue; the rest are for 'Building 13' which would be at the SE corner of 63rd and Classen and for the proposed parking structure immediately to the south:

http://www.pc78.com/images/okctalk/chkcampusb2.jpg

http://www.e-a-a.com/Images/ideas-tn/3_bigbldg1.gif

http://www.e-a-a.com/Images/ideas-tn/7_big-bldg1.gif

http://www.e-a-a.com/Images/ideas-tn/9_big-bldg1.gif

http://www.e-a-a.com/Images/ideas/chspk_bld_13/big13_bldg13.gif

http://www.e-a-a.com/Images/ideas/chspk_bld_13/big13_bldg14.gif

http://www.e-a-a.com/Images/ideas/chspk_bld_13/big13_bldg30.gif

The more I see unfold, the more I believe we're seeing the slow birth of a new university campus.

Not a bad thing. TBP bought one, so no reason AM can't build one from scratch.

If "Building 1" is where I think it is, it has already been built. It is all glass and supposively an extended part of the fitness center.

Also, I don't know why some people are thinking this is going to be turned into a university. McClendon is a big contributor to OU. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but it's not uncommon for large corporations to have a campus. Just because it's OKC's only one really, doesn't mean we should suspect it's going to be a university. Is Google, Nike, etc. going to turn into a university?

Building 1 is where one of the original cottages stand. Unless they've pulled at least one of them down, that is not the same location, Metro.

Not sure Pete, if you can tell me where Classen is in relation to that map, I could tell you. They already have one glass building all the way up, just east of Classen Curve and Western.

^
classen is the boulevard just right of center. nw 63rd is the top edge of the map. -M

That's not where Building 1 will be located. This building is shown above in the center of the campus plan in blue. It's on the site of the original cottages.

The one you photographed is the addition shown on the lower part of the campus map to the labeled Fitness Center.

Building one will be five stories and roughly the size of the rest of the Georgian-styled buildings. Interesting that they plan to merge more modern elements amongst all the traditional brick... I like it, though.

Not sure Pete, if you can tell me where Classen is in relation to that map, I could tell you. They already have one glass building all the way up, just east of Classen Curve and Western.

From looking at Googlemaps, it looks like Classen is the landscaped two sided street just west of Building 13. So it looks like Building 13 and the parking structure would take up 62nd to 63rd and Classen to Francis Ave.

On another note, is Chesapeake going to have it's own canal? That should be interesting.

Here's the larger campus plan that shows Building 1 in the middle in blue and Classen Curve in purple:

http://www.pc78.com/images/okctalk/chkcampus3.jpg