Chesapeake empire marches on

[Pete]

Maybe something is happening on the Kensington site that fits within the existing zoning, such as 2-3 level condos.


Today I noticed that -- after taking lots of care to save them initially -- all the trees adjacent to the WF site have been cut down.

It looks like they are getting busy on that creek, as they had received approval from the city some time ago to make it terraced similar to the waterways on their campus.

[stdennis]

Some video i shot on my phone and a picture too

[Pete]

I posted this in a Classen Curve thread but wanted to document it here as well, as CHK is closing in on complete ownership of a large and highly visable tract. They recently bought Deep Fork Grill and related property for $4.5 million and one of the Grand Commons office condos.

Have to believe this will become more retail at some point (CHK properties in yellow):

[Chicken In The Rough]

Has there been any speculation on the Brookhaven neighborhood? It is now pretty well surrounded. No offense to the people who live in Brookhaven, but it seems that a master plan might include some sort of large-scale mixed use redevelopment of this area. It is quickly becoming obvious that single-family housing may not remain the best use for this area much longer.

[Pete]

CHK has been buying houses in Brookhaven (their holdings shown in yellow below).

Also, there is this small housing development proposed for two of the lots in that subdivision:

http://www.sellingoklahoma.com/MyHom...HomeID=1053952

[Spartan]

Maybe something is happening on the Kensington site that fits within the existing zoning, such as 2-3 level condos.


Today I noticed that -- after taking lots of care to save them initially -- all the trees adjacent to the WF site have been cut down.

It looks like they are getting busy on that creek, as they had received approval from the city some time ago to make it terraced similar to the waterways on their campus.

This is going to be very nice if they ever get it finished before they get bought out. Is it good that Aubrey is so ostentatious?

[kinggober]

Tower crane being installed for building 14
Webcam link



Preparing for demolition? This is the building on the SW corner of 63rd and Western

[betts]

They're tearing down Possum Creek?

[Pete]

There was a building permit issued for a Possum Creek remodel about a week ago and there has been no demolition permit issued.

[BoulderSooner]

CHK has been buying houses in Brookhaven (their holdings shown in yellow below).

chesapeake now owns the 58th st lot between their two blocks of property and they have applied to the planning commission to change there 58th st property's in 1 SPUD

http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/meeting...gs&docid=28859 second to bottom of page

fyi the paid 600,000 for that final piece of property on Jan 10, 2011

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assess...TNO=R085272600

could we see a southern expansion of classen curve soon?

[Pete]

I saw they issued a demolition permit for one of those houses on 58th about a week ago.

Of course, their pattern is to scrape buildings long before they ever build something back.

[okclee]

I'm surprised that CHK hasn't bought out that entire neighborhood already. The way that they throw money at people for their property, this shouldn't take much longer until CHK owns it all. This is the only way that Okc will see the fully developed Classen Curve shopping district.

[Jethrol]

I'm surprised that CHK hasn't bought out that entire neighborhood already. The way that they throw money at people for their property, this shouldn't take much longer until CHK owns it all. This is the only way that Okc will see the fully developed Classen Curve shopping district.

Really? The only way? You don't think their development has already made it more attractive to other shopping developers? It seems to me that that whole area would be a great buy.

[okclee]

Maybe I wasn't being clear with my statement;

I do think the current CC is an awesome development and it has made everything around their campus very attractive (never said it wasn't attractive). I am certain that right now we are only seeing a portion of this development. Not until CHK buys the houses south to 56th street will we see the completed CC retail district. Take a look at the Classen Curve map above and imagine that entire neighborhood being developed with more of the same type of retail space. Now that will be the fully developed Classen Curve that I am referring to.

[Pete]

There are some other speculators / developers buying property in that neighborhood. There is a housing development already proposed for two of the lots on 56th.

[OKCTalker]

Really? The only way? You don't think their development has already made it more attractive to other shopping developers? It seems to me that that whole area would be a great buy.

It's not more attractive to other developers because they can't match CHK's prices to buy land. Besides, all commercial parcels have been bought by CHK, either to hold or develop. There are virtually no available, developable commercial parcels within a mile of 63rd & Western that aren't either owned by CHK, owned by Jeff Records, priced beyond economic feasibility, or simply a lousy property to begin with. And don't forget that its 2011, we've been through three rough retail years in OKC, and banks still aren't lending.

[onthestrip]

I'm surprised that CHK hasn't bought out that entire neighborhood already. The way that they throw money at people for their property, this shouldn't take much longer until CHK owns it all. This is the only way that Okc will see the fully developed Classen Curve shopping district.

Because they have already shown their hand. Its going to take a long time for them to acquire the rest of these homes. The home owners know who wants them, have seen what they want them for and there will be several home owners that will hold out for a very long time and demand a bunch of money.

Really? The only way? You don't think their development has already made it more attractive to other shopping developers? It seems to me that that whole area would be a great buy.

As okctalker said. This area is in no way attractive to other developers. They cant pay what Chpk has been paying. And if they did, they couldnt redevelop it to where it would make any money.

[Pete]

CHK owns literally hundreds of un- or under-developed acres in that area.

Buying dozens more little houses for hugely inflated prices makes no sense to me. They have a long, long way to go before they even scratch the surface of what they already own yet are paying $600K for a house that just sold a few years earlier for $76K. And they still would have to acquire 50+ separate properties. At the rate they are going, that would be about $30 million (!!)in addition to what they've already paid just for the land on those few streets.

[BoulderSooner]

CHK owns literally hundreds of un- or under-developed acres in that area.

Buying dozens more little houses for hugely inflated prices makes no sense to me. They have a long, long way to go before they even scratch the surface of what they already own yet are paying $600K for a house that just sold a few years earlier for $76K. And they still would have to acquire 50+ separate properties. At the rate they are going, that would be about $30 million (!!)in addition to what they've already paid just for the land on those few streets.

i woud think that if they aquire the remaining houses on 58th st that they could and will apply for 58th to be closed and could expand CC to that area before moving on to 57th ect

[mcca7596]

In the Sandridge demolition thread, someone casually mentioned that perhaps Chesapeake could build a tower on the site of the AT&T building if it were to be demolished.

I wonder if Chesapeake would ever have the need, let alone desire, to build a tower downtown?

Probably not for a long time until they outgrew their current campus, which itself is expanding and uncomplete. Hopefully they will be around long enough for it to even be considered.

[Jethrol]

In the Sandridge demolition thread, someone casually mentioned that perhaps Chesapeake could build a tower on the site of the AT&T building if it were to be demolished.

I wonder if Chesapeake would ever have the need, let alone desire, to build a tower downtown?

Probably not for a long time until they outgrew their current campus, which itself is expanding and uncomplete. Hopefully they will be around long enough for it to even be considered.

Aubrey has talked about building a tower before and his opposition to doing so. It's one of the reasons the CHK campus looks the way it does.

He's opposed to it because it imposes an organizational hierarchy that he doesn't like. When you have a tower, moving up in the tower is perceived as moving up in the company....whether it's a reality or not. He likes to keep the buildings smaller so that this mindset doesn't emerge at CHK.

I seriously doubt that CHK would build a tower but then again, I never thought they would build a campus where they did and I certainly never expected Whole Foods, Classen Curve and some of the other changes they've made. So it's possible......hell I love, absolutely LOVE sky scrapers and would love to see another one here in OKC.

[betts]

It looks as if there is a second construction site being prepared just north and west of Whole Foods. I just noticed it this morning and am not completely sure that's what I was seeing, as it was still slightly dark, but it looks suspicious.

[betts]

I went by again tonight after picking up my dogs from daycare and there is definitely a leveled area with some wooden stakes. It's quite a bit smaller than Whole Foods, but definitely looks like there's going to be something built there. I would think an announcement might be coming soon, unless it's a CNG station.

[Pete]

I've been watching building permits and haven't seen anything issued in that area.

Will be interesting to see what springs up there. Keep us posted betts!

[redrunner]

I've been watching building permits and haven't seen anything issued in that area.

Will be interesting to see what springs up there. Keep us posted betts!

Pete, are site plans for WF a matter of public record or is that something that we won't see until the construction or development releases?