Thrust From 40-foot High Rocket Ship Expected To Ignite Huge Crowds, Create Carnival Atmosphere But That Doesn’t Thrill Some Residents
by Glen Richardson
A rocket originally built in California and first tested on Nevada’s Black Rock Desert is taking aim at Denver. Target is the Lowry neighborhood, site of the nation’s first Titan Missile Base. Ground zero is Hangar 2 on the corner of East Academy Blvd and Rampart Way.
Holy Moses! Luckily this isn’t a High Velocity Aircraft Rocket — such as those the armed forces nicknamed Holy Moses — but instead is a sculpture identified by the moniker of Raygun Gothic Rocketship. It was built by a group of artists, geeks and inventors in the San Francisco Bay area, not rocket scientists.
Jim Hartman of Boulder-based Hartman Ely Investments — partner with Larimer Associates in Lowry’s Hangar 2 development — is behind the orbital maneuver to land the spacecraft here with expectations of hooking a lucrative payload of sightseers. A circular kiosk is proposed on the corner of E. Academy Blvd and Rampart Way, with the rocket ship sculpture installed on top. Height of the kiosk would be 10 feet, 10 inches and measure 10 feet in diameter. Overall height of the kiosk and rocket ship combined would be about 50 feet. The kiosk and sculpture together would be shorter than the highest point of the hangar building and comparable in height to the tailfin of the airplane at the adjacent Wings Over the Rockies Museum.
Space Disaster?
The rocket ship, according to Hangar 2 Partners, has a realistic cockpit and other “theatrical” features. The cockpit would be accessed on a custom ladder during periodic supervised events. The retail kiosk would serve as the site’s visual launch pad. Sales of ice cream, rocket models, t-shirts and other items would help to repay the cost of acquiring, shipping and installing the rocket ship. “Like the existing B-52 Airplane at Wings, the rocket ship will be an iconic image of space and flight that will not only be a significant public amenity, but will bolster the Wing’s educational programs,” the partners suggest.
Some residents in Lowry, however, say 
the location and environment at Hangar 2 just isn’t right and believe the ship would create a space disaster. “Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but to us the sight of this rocket ship has as much appeal as the Blue Monster at DIA,” say Michael and Irina Merson. “By no means do we imply the same karma as befell the creator of the Blue Monster. But it simply does not fit visually and aesthetically with the surroundings that already include four restaurants. It just doesn’t belong here, it belongs somewhere else.” Local homeowner Yvonne Olson adds, “The concept of an outdoor sculpture is a good idea, but only if the size fits with the area.”
Johanna Hermanson labels the piece an “ice cream rocket” and says she is amazed the developers would consider installing it at Hangar 2.” It looks as if it belongs at a carnival. Even more disturbing,” she worries, “is the amount of traffic it will produce.” She isn’t sure input from residents will have much influence on the outcome, “but I hope that Lowry rethinks the repercussions.” Betsy Herrick admits that the rocket ship is fascinating. She cautions, however, “that the proposed location
would be a distraction to drivers at the busy intersection, given its size and surprising look. Add kids climbing on it and the staff supervising them, and the distraction is even greater. Insert buyers at the ice cream shop, and there’s more congestion. All in a small space.” She is also dismayed that the developer looked outside Colorado for artists.
Science Fiction
Intended to invoke the romantic notion of space travel before it became reality, the ornate and futuristic ship is a highly stylized vision of space travel circa 1930s-1940s science fiction, according to the organization behind the piece. Using colloquial language, the Raygun Gothic Rocketship website declares, “It is between yesterday’s tomorrow and the future that never was.” To everyone els
e, it’s a 40-foot tall metallic silver rocket ship.
Artists claim the piece was once launched off the ground. That claim, however, is doubtful considering the sculpture doesn’t have an engine.
It initially landed at Burning Man 2009, a festival for academics, geeks and suburban parents that gather on the Nevada Desert each year. It was then installed at Pier 14 in San Francisco where it was a huge success and remained on exhibit for more than two years. Subsequently it was displayed at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Most recently it landed at a five-day Arts, Science & Engineering event in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It would become a permanent art piece should it land in Lowry.
Flight Gone Awry
Anthony Romeo — a former WWII Na
vy and United Airlines pilot who retired from United after 31 years — tells the Chronicle, “I am concerned about the Dining District property.” He admits that installation of the a
musement park quality rocket ship will not directly affect him since he and his wife live in the west building at Luce Condominiums that is out of the line of sight. Still, he says, “To my way of thinking, it is totally out of character with the existing ambience of that complex.”
A volunteer at the Wings Museum for more than 10 years, he remembers the site as originally being a bleak looking property. “Over the years I have seen the museum property survive a number of ill advised redevelopment proposals. Then, fortunately, Mr. Hartman saved it and created the very desirable complex that we all presently enjoy. Why he would now change course and destroy his well done project puzzles me,” he wraps up.
Resident Marge Mahoney agrees. Also from an aviation family — her husband and son are Captains for American Airlines — she believes Hangar 2 is a bad place for the cold looking rocket ship. “Why not a beautiful tree in that location? It would warm up the area and be much less expensive.” She says she is also appalled Lowry voted for the extensive building now underway at Quebec, First Ave. and Monaco Parkway.
Hovering At Hangar
A rocket flying toward the ground is usu
ally a bad precursor, especially for those living at ground zero. That’s the situation faced by the 66 residents living in the Luce Condominiums, a mid-rise condo development adjacent to Hangar 2. “Depiction of this corner as quiet and spacious is far from accurate. Many times it’s not,” clarifies Luce HOA President David Allen.
He understands that the perception of the aesthetic and historical value of the Raygun Gothic Rocketship will differ. However he contends that the negative impact of drawing children and others to the site is undeniable, especially considering they already border on chaotic in good weather months.
“Opening of the fifth dining district restaurant, increasing participation at the fitness center, and a housing complex just across the street will serve to exacerbate an already safety-challenged, pedestrian-dense location,” he warns. The ice cream/t-shirt retail outlet at the base of the rocket ship with cars parked everywhere plus a line of children and others is a formula for accidents. “All neighbors are asking for is an opportunity to have a voice at an early juncture in the process of selecting a more benign art piece for our corner,” Allen concludes.
Hartman Ponders Response To Luce Condo Owner Concerns
As the February issue of the Chronicle was going to press, David Allen, HOA President at the Luce Condominiums adjacent to Hangar 2, received the following reply from Jim Hartman of Boulder-based Hartman Ely Investments:
“Our team wants Luce to know that we have definitely heard your concerns and are looking at a couple of potential ideas that you might like better. Those ideas will take at least a few weeks to analyze completely but I will be back in touch when we know more.” — Jim Hartman
