SandRidge Center & Commons

[rondvu]

Maybe the future site of the Chesapeake Tower.

[Pete]

Sid, that's a different building.

Here is the one we are talking about (on the NW corner of RS Kerr & Broadway, with photo credit to Doug Loudenback):

[OKCRT]

Did someone say that Chesapeake was building a tower? How tall is that one going to be? Instead of that large campus they should have and prob. could have built 2 downtown towers for the money they have spent. Double towers connected with sky bridges would be nice.

[Pete]

No, Chesapeake isn't building a tower... They are busy adding onto their campus at 63rd & Western.

It is possible SandRidge could build another tower downtown, but they would have to grow substantially before that would even be considered.

[OSUMom]

A demolition permit was issued two days ago for the India Temple building.

Has anyone noticed if they started yet?

The windows are all covered with plastic. I assume to keep the glass from shattering as they demolish?

[Pete]

Thanks for the info, OSUMom.

The plastic is probably to get the glass to fall more inward during demolition rather than falling down onto the street.

I bet there will be a wrecking ball out there this week if not already.

[Kerry]

OKC needs two new ordinances.

1. No building can be razed unless it is replaced by a building with at least 50% of the origial floor space.
2. A fine will be instituted for un-occupied buildings.

The message to property owners would be fix up what you have, sell it, or build something else; but no more dilapidated structures sitting vacant for 20 years.

[Patrick]

If indeed all of the ornate details on the India Temple building were sawed off, I can see demolishing it. It's worthless. But, the problem is, no one can prove that one way or the other.

[Soho]

They have started removing the windows and false front.

[Kerry]

And, if they've started removing the facade on the India Temple Building, has anyone noticed what's underneath? so are they going to remove the facade before they demolish the building? I sure hope so. Maybe we can see what's really under there. If the ornate detail is all "sawed off" then demolish it, but otherwise, if it's still present, let's change course and preserve it.

If you want to see what is under the facade you are going to have to dig through the rubble yourself. No way Sandridge would risk showing anyone what is behind it.

[Pete]

I moved a ton of posts to the "General Urban Development" thread.

Please keep this thread on the subject on the SandRidge properites.

[Spartan]

I just wanted to say this thread is extremely depressing to me. That is all.

[OKCisOK4me]

If the building looked like it did in the left photo of post #2178, I'd have an issue with it being razed but it's been so altered to extreme ugliness that I just hope its gone soon enough. So horrible looking...

[Larry OKC]

But it has been said that the old building is underneath (was reclad with the current ugliness). Strip away the facade and find out if it is there or not. Recall seeing a courthouse demo (think it was in Oklahoma) a couple of years ago and when they started demo, they discovered elaborate columns (full figure statue type) and the like. they took some pictures and continued the demo. Sad.

[Spartan]

If the building looked like it did in the left photo of post #2178, I'd have an issue with it being razed but it's been so altered to extreme ugliness that I just hope its gone soon enough. So horrible looking...

With all due respect though, people who are a lot more knowledgeable about said alterations, disagree..

[bombermwc]

There have been far worse facade changes. This one might have been boring, but it was far from awful...at least you can see SOME deatail still. I think we're all on the same side when we say, if it was structurally sound, then it should have stayed. Thing is, we lost that battle long ago.

[Pete]

I found this photo on the 'net...

Yes, this is looking NE from Robinson & Robert S Kerr. Very strange to see all those buildings gone.

[plmccordj]

Kerry,

Listen to what you are saying. "The message to property owners". No one should be able to tell another person what to do with their own property unless it affects the rights and freedoms of others. What is this...Moscow? I think most of us would rather have a beautiful city but I think freedom trumps everything. Anyone that would advocate imposing their will on another citizen for beauty sake is questionable to me. This is one of the reasons that I believe home owners associations (HOA) should be illegal. People have too long touted their "right" to maintain property values at the expense of their neighbor's freedoms. I don't care if a person wishes to line their front lawn with refrigerators or park recreational vehicles side ways with no wheels in their front yard, it is their property. Property value is a risk that a person takes when they purchase a property. A property owner has the right to invest as much money as they wish to raise their property value but they do not have the right to take away the rights of others. There is no innate right to maintain property values at the expense of other's freedoms.

Sorry... I just had to voice my opinion on this because I just got out of an HOA power struggle. I would NEVER own a piece of property if a compulsory covenant agreement were part of the deal.

[Kerry]

Kerry,

Listen to what you are saying. "The message to property owners". No one should be able to tell another person what to do with their own property unless it affects the rights and freedoms of others. What is this...Moscow? I think most of us would rather have a beautiful city but I think freedom trumps everything. Anyone that would advocate imposing their will on another citizen for beauty sake is questionable to me. This is one of the reasons that I believe home owners associations (HOA) should be illegal. People have too long touted their "right" to maintain property values at the expense of their neighbor's freedoms. I don't care if a person wishes to line their front lawn with refrigerators or park recreational vehicles side ways with no wheels in their front yard, it is their property. Property value is a risk that a person takes when they purchase a property. A property owner has the right to invest as much money as they wish to raise their property value but they do not have the right to take away the rights of others. There is no innate right to maintain property values at the expense of other's freedoms.

Sorry... I just had to voice my opinion on this because I just got out of an HOA power struggle. I would NEVER own a piece of property if a compulsory covenant agreement were part of the deal.

If you have property within a municiple district you are in compulsory covenant agreement. Don't know what to tell you. While the 'freedom comes first' mantra sounds great, it isn't practical. Can I buy the house next to you and open up a half way house for sex-offenders?

[Midtowner]

I don't care if a person wishes to line their front lawn with refrigerators or park recreational vehicles side ways with no wheels in their front yard, it is their property. Property value is a risk that a person takes when they purchase a property. A property owner has the right to invest as much money as they wish to raise their property value but they do not have the right to take away the rights of others. There is no innate right to maintain property values at the expense of other's freedoms.

Clearly, you lost your HOA dispute, so you should know, a property owner has no such right.

HOA agreements are one of the ways property owners manage risk in property values.

And you think it's okay to line your lawn with old refrigerators? Move to southern Logan County and knock yourself out.

[Spartan]

I found this photo on the 'net...

Yes, this is looking NE from Robinson & Robert S Kerr. Very strange to see all those buildings gone.

Looks like the BOK Center in Tulsa. Yay.

[euphjay]

Could someone explain the rational behind the 3 different levels of window sizes on the Kerr-McGee building? It is very unusual looking.

[Patrick]

Could someone explain the rational behind the 3 different levels of window sizes on the Kerr-McGee building? It is very unusual looking.

There's more concrete the further down you go for support of the structure. It's more structural than aesthetic.

[UnFrSaKn]

I really never put much thought into doing a...well deconstruction update for Sandridge Commons along with the Devon construction updates. Just not enough time in the day I guess. Plus this time of the year, there's not a lot of time in the day after work with good lighting, but those are just excuses.

You'll be pleased to know I just got back from doing video down there from E.K. Gaylord, west along Robert S. Kerr, to the corner of Robinson here. I got different shots along the way, not strictly Sandridge Commons. The Oklahoma Savings & Loan building and this whole angle is nothing but air.



The Braniff looks old and worn down, with odd holes and windows in the side, like it is about to be demolished but we know they are saving it. It's too bad I didn't record the last days of the OS&L, but oh well. I'll try to have the video up as soon as I can. I plan on adding more content into the video before it's done.

[Kerry]

Could someone explain the rational behind the 3 different levels of window sizes on the Kerr-McGee building? It is very unusual looking.

It was done to make it look like an inverted pyramid. I don't think the exterior of the building is holding anything up other than the windows.