Is Chesapeake Cannibalizing the Western Corridor?

[Martin]

a chesapeake campus stretching from '50th to wilshire' is gross hyperbole. it's just never going to happen. currently, the campus proper exists between western and classen and extends from 59th to 63rd. saying that the campus could extend from 50th to the equivalent of 78th is in itself absurd. a single campus of that size would be impractical, even if you ignore the area's current geography. when you factor in geography, the assertion isn't just improbable; it's a joke.

besides, most of the area's charm lies west of western and north of 63rd. i believe that this has been stated, but such an expansion would put the campus out of the confines of oklahoma city and into nichols hills. the economics of that city hinge on far different factors than that of okc and thus such a development would be scrutinized much further. read that as "it's not going to happen."

as for the area north of 63rd and east of western, anything can happen. however, there comes a point that the campus will grow too large for it to be practical and functional in serving chesapeake's interests. i think that the size of the campus is growing near to that point. even if expansion continues north of western (which i'd prefer not to see), it's not likely to extend far.

-M

[zuluwarrior0760]

Nichols Hills is going to "scrutinize"???
Never gonna happen??

Did Nichols Hills have a say at all when Chesapeake
bought the Plaza?

What exactly CAN Nichols Hills do should they decide
they don't like the idea of Chesapeake Bulldozing the Plaza
for more office space?????
I'm not being a smartass here....I "really" want to know
what they "CAN" do...if that comes to pass..

[Patrick]

They don't have to issue a building permit. Also, wouldn't zoning have to change? Isn't it currently zoned commercial-retail?

Anyways, Nichols Hills could stop them by not issuing a building permit. Nuf said.

[Patrick]

Thanks for the tongue in cheek post which so pointedly expresses your opinion. IMO however, it is totally inappropriate to misrepresent information in the process. Being blatantly untruthful in the process of trying to be funny is just in bad taste.

He resgined his post, so no need to worry about him anymore.

[Martin]

guess i was too slow in getting back here to defend my own argument... shame on me.

What exactly CAN Nichols Hills do should they decide they don't like the idea of Chesapeake Bulldozing the Plaza for more office space?????

as it was stated, nichols hills could tie up development by refusing to issue various permits and by not allowing the area to be re-zoned. while the city can't stop the purchase, it does have some power to dictate how the real estate is used.

-M

[zuluwarrior0760]

OK, so NH has a defense...
but what happens when Chesapeake buys
ALL the homes in Nichols Hills for triple their value...
then they will be the only residents of Nichols Hills,
and they will vote out the officials that failed to issue
a building permit and move in cronies of their own to make
sure the plaza falls!

I read somewhere on Chesapeake's website that they are going to do this if their demands are not met....

[Patrick]

OK, so NH has a defense...
but what happens when Chesapeake buys
ALL the homes in Nichols Hills for triple their value...
then they will be the only residents of Nichols Hills,
and they will vote out the officials that failed to issue
a building permit and move in cronies of their own to make
sure the plaza falls!

I read somewhere on Chesapeake's website that they are going to do this if their demands are not met....

They better have a lot of money. Paying triple the value of all of the homes in Nichols Hills would be in the billions. And would probably take years. Wishful thinking on Chesapeake's part.

[Patrick]

I drove down Western today and looked at the entire Western Avenue District. Chesapeake is now just approaching 63rd St. I don't think we have to worry about them moving too much farther north than The Metro. There's more land there than I thought. Plus they own everything to the west of their current campus.

Western Avenue District will still be pretty nice without Laredo's and Pearls.

And I can't see them expanding all the way to Wilshire. That's a huge amount of property. I didn't realize it extended so far. I'd say they'll expand as far north as The Metro and that's it. In all reality, I'd be surprised if they crossed 63rd St., as that would split their campus up.