Tower off Broadway between Wilshire and Britton

[ChrisHayes]

I have a friend who was telling me that he's heard there's plans to build a 20+ story tower for an energy company off Broadway somewhere between Britton Road and Wilshire Boulevard. Has anyone else heard anything about this? Admins, please feel free to move this to the mystery tower thread if you think it belongs there.

[Plutonic Panda]

This would be super awesome if so!

[warreng88]

I have a friend who was telling me that he's heard there's plans to build a 20+ story tower for an energy company off Broadway somewhere between Britton Road and Wilshire Boulevard. Has anyone else heard anything about this? Admins, please feel free to move this to the mystery tower thread if you think it belongs there.

That's probably in reference to the land AEP owns: American Energy Partners - OKCTalk

[Pete]

American Energy Partners -- Aubrey McClendon's new company -- is in the planning stages of building on property south of the old OPUBCO tower on Britton & Broadway.

The assumption has been that it would be a campus-style setting but it's completely possible that they would build taller this time rather than replicate the sprawl at Chesapeake.

American Energy Partners - OKCTalk

[OklahomaNick]

Remember that Aubrey was not necessarily a fan of many smaller 4 to 6 story buildings like Chesapeake currently is. These buildings were built to the height limitations of Nichols Hills city codes. That is why many of the CHK buildings went 2 (sometimes 3) stories underground to make them bigger.

With what comes out of the development stage of Wilshire and I-235 we will see what Aubrey really has wanted to do all along.

[Pete]

^

But Nick, none of the Chesapeake buildings were within Nichols Hills -- all in OKC apart from Nichols Hills Plaza.

Chesapeake filed a series of Planned Unit Developments that specified building heights would be limited.

If you recall, they started off leasing what was then 3 Chopt Square which was a small office park with architecture similar to what they adopted for their central campus. They started in that style to create some continuity but of course then went more modern after they built about a dozen buildings in the Georgian style.

Only one of the original 3 Chopt Square buildings remain on their campus which was planned to be a CHK museum at some point.

[warreng88]

Remember that Aubrey was not necessarily a fan of many smaller 4 to 6 story buildings like Chesapeake currently is. These buildings were built to the height limitations of Nichols Hills city codes. That is why many of the CHK buildings went 2 (sometimes 3) stories underground to make them bigger.

With what comes out of the development stage of Wilshire and I-235 we will see what Aubrey really has wanted to do all along.

When I worked at CHK, Aubrey explained why he wanted to build the campus the way he did. He said he never wanted more than five people between him and any other person at CHK and the campus was symbolic of that. He also said since CHK was trying to attract young professionals, some right out of college, he wanted there to be a college like appearance to the campus where people looked forward going to work, not spending 10 minutes with their heads down going 40 stories up to their office (dig at Devon). The long term plans early on where to make it a live/work/play area. That explains why he built Classen Curve, Whole Foods, etc. Early on, there were plans for housing on the west side of Grand between Classen and 63rd so that area was leveled but never redeveloped. Now that he has started his new company, maybe his priorities have changed and he thinks it will be better to have a mid rise type of building instead of a bunch of five story buildings where you have to walk a ways to get to meetings.

[Pete]

He also has much less land to work with at Broadway & Wilshire.

As fast as his company is growing, they could fill a 20-story building by the time it was complete (at least two years to open it's doors).

They already have over 100,000 square feet less than one year in. If you figure 15,000 usable square feet per floor, a 20-story building would be about 300,000 SF of office space.

[jn1780]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if they buy the Atrium towers from Loves in the future. It would look bad if Cheaspeake sold them to Aubrey so I think their was a gentleman's agreement between him and the Loves.

Loves could build at least a couple of buildings if it bought demolished the old Walmart building.

[Pete]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if they buy the Atrium towers from Loves in the future. It would look bad if Cheaspeake sold them to Aubrey so I think their was a gentleman's agreement between him and the Loves.

Loves could build at least a couple of buildings if it bought demolished the old Walmart building.

In the American Energy Partners thread I just posted a schematic that shows Love's taking space in the north tower and putting their name on it. AEP will have space there as well and have already started working on a couple of floors in the south tower.

Atrium Towers would barely contain all of AEP's now, let alone the future. And I don't think Aubrey wants employees scattered all over town and I've been told by multiple solid sources they plan to build at Wilshire & Broadway and plans are well underway.

[RickOKC]

I know that not everything has to be downtown, but why would AEP avoid building there? A 20-story building with possible future buildings would be such a benefit to the density and expansion of the CBD footprint.

[Rover]

They aren't avoiding anything. They are building where they want to be.

[Pete]

Aubrey clearly likes having his offices in that area.

He chose it for Chesapeake initially and long-term, and they when he started AEP he moved in right across the street. And of course, he already owns the property at Wilshire & Broadway.

Through the hundreds (literally) of real estate purchases through his companies and his own money, he has never bought anything downtown.

[adaniel]

I agree that not everything needs to be downtown but lets face it that's not a very nice area. It's only real benefit is its off a major commuter road. Its desolate and actually a tad bit dangerous. Outside of what American Fidelity is doing with OPUBCO I don't see that area developing large scale anytime soon.

If it were NW Expressway, Western, or Memorial/Quail Springs area, with a high concentration of other businesses and restaurants and services that would be convenient for employees I would understand.

Oh well, its his land so whatevs.

[Jeepnokc]

I know that not everything has to be downtown, but why would AEP avoid building there? A 20-story building with possible future buildings would be such a benefit to the density and expansion of the CBD footprint.

It is still close to downtown but still within OKC school limits so land value is cheaper than if downtown or in Edmond schools. That land had a lot less value as home additions due to school district and wasn't quite close enough to downtown to increased value. If you want some density, annex this area into Edmond schools and watch it infill with residential.

[Urbanized]

...Through the hundreds (literally) of real estate purchases through his companies and his own money, he has never bought anything downtown.

Well, technically didn't he buy the K-M campus from Anadarko and then immediately flip to Sandridge? Your point is well-taken though. While he's been a great supporter of downtown's amenities and entertainment offerings, I don't think he has any desire for his companies to be located there.

[RickOKC]

Well, technically didn't he buy the K-M campus from Anadarko and then immediately flip to Sandridge? Your point is well-taken though. While he's been a great supporter of downtown's amenities and entertainment offerings, I don't think he has any desire for his companies to be located there.

Which is why I intentionally used the word "avoided" to describe his relationship to developing the business downtown. The current trend and momentum is certainly toward downtown development. It would be the natural and even expected place to go - apart from observing his business practices. He's not a passive or arbitrary man, and I'm curious what would make him actively choose not to go where the momentum and synergy are present.

[Pete]

^

I believe it is because he prefers a campus-style office setting which isn't conducive to an urban setting.

[ChrisHayes]

There's a lot of land to be developed up on Britton and Wilshire. Between Kimray, American Fidelity, and AEP, that might be what really kicks development up there into high gear. Especially AEP and Kimray.

[RickOKC]

^

I believe it is because he prefers a campus-style office setting which isn't conducive to an urban setting.

I guess that may be as good of an answer as we will get. I would still suggest that there is campus-size development potential in places closer to the action (south of OUHSC or the Producer's co-op site would be amazing!). But I suppose each person is entitled to their preferences and ideals, and he certainly has the capital and expertise to bring his preferences to pass.

[RickOKC]

And, again, it's not that everything has to be downtown. I'm thankful for many good projects that happen elsewhere. I would just love to see his particular style of investment and influence (even the campus preferences) added more directly to the fabric of downtown development.

[Pete]

To be fair, Aubrey and Chesapeake have supported plenty of things downtown.

In addition to brokering the deal for SandRidge Tower, they also put a lot of money towards redeveloping Kerr & Couch Parks.

Of course, CHK sponsors the arena but they also built the first boathouse, contributed money for the finish line tower and Aubrey gave a substantial sum for the OU Boathouse.

I know CHK and AEP sponsor other downtown events as well.


Not the same as building your HQ there and bringing lots of workers to the central city, but they have still made a big impact.

[coov23]

What are the odds of their headquarters actually being built as 20+ story tower? Seems a little odd to build such a tall structure in that spot, no?

[Rover]

I agree that not everything needs to be downtown but lets face it that's not a very nice area. It's only real benefit is its off a major commuter road. Its desolate and actually a tad bit dangerous. Outside of what American Fidelity is doing with OPUBCO I don't see that area developing large scale anytime soon.

If it were NW Expressway, Western, or Memorial/Quail Springs area, with a high concentration of other businesses and restaurants and services that would be convenient for employees I would understand.

Oh well, its his land so whatevs.

It is becoming a very nice area. There is a substantial amount of nice development going in along Bdwy Extn at Britton. Lots of medical and other office. Bdwy between Kilpatrick and 63rd is progressing pretty nicely. It is in no way dangerous and will be populated with lots of employment with everything going on there. Besides AF, SAIC is there, the Thunder practice facilities, TV stations, multiple office developments, a couple of large oil companies, etc. It is well located for housing for execs and for lesser paid. It is easy access to Edmond, Nichols Hills, NW OKC, Downtown, Belle Isle, Penn Square, etc., etc. It will be 5-10 min to the new GE Center. It is easy access to expressways for getting to the Airport. It is easy to get to Tulsa from there. Etc., etc., etc. Is it faux NYC? No. Is it a bad choice...not necessarily.

[Urbanized]

I also think he has personally invested so much effort into the NH/CHK area (yes, I know, someone else owns it now but he still put in much of the work/vision) that he does not want to stray too far from there. When at CHK he indicated that his vision was to create a great place to live/work/play to make recruitment easier, and that now exists in that part of town thanks in large part to his efforts, and is now continuing to improve thanks to the efforts of others. So I suspect he would like to still be able to leverage (no pun intended) that area to benefit his new company.