The sweltering months of 2019 were bumper-to-bumper trouble
for U.S. Highway 36 commuters.
Questions Raised: Residents began to ask how long it would take to fix and who was going to pay for it?
If you are one of the 107,000 motorists or public
transportation customers who traverse this corridor daily, here’s hoping your
vehicle has air conditioning, your playlist is extensive, and your boss knows
you’re going to be late.
A considerable crack in the surface layer appeared July 12,
2019, prompting Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews to close the
eastbound lanes at Church Ranch Blvd. The decision was indeed prudent, as the
fissure soon gave way to a gap that eventually ruptured into a ditch-like
sinkhole in the road.
By July 15, 2019, traffic in both directions had been
diverted to two respective lanes of the westbound corridor — resulting in a
bottleneck effect in an already heavily congested zone. This allowed some
traffic flow, however sluggish, so that CDOT crews could access the area,
analyze the damage and embark on a massive repair project.
Meanwhile, the event sparked several issues, as area
residents, CDOT personnel and daily commuters began to ponder the obvious. How
long would it be before the damage was fixed, why had a new stretch of road
caved in like the top of a half-baked cake, and perhaps most importantly, where
would the money come from to pay for the reconstruction?
A Dubious Timeline
Lateral and aerial photos revealed a multi-dimensional
calamity, as the horizontal depression in the road was countered by a vertical
eruption of retaining wall concrete slabs, debris-ridden soil and mangled
rebar. On July 15, 2019, CDOT chief engineer Josh Laipply was quoted by several
news outlets including Colorado Public Radio (CPR) as stating that it would be
“weeks” before the highway would be returned to an operational condition.
Several days later, that statement was amended by CDOT Executive Director
Shoshana Lew, who offered that it would be “a matter of months” for the repair
to be completed.
Meanwhile CDOT Communications Director Matt Inzeo via phone
interview declined to comment on a projected timeline. He pivoted instead and
offered that the retaining wall-supported embankment upon which the highway was
built sits next to a “wetlands area that used to be a lake.”
A Sinking Feeling
Crack In The Surface: A considerable crack in the surface layer appeared July 12, 2019, prompting Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews to close the eastbound lanes at Church Ranch Blvd.
The aforementioned information, perhaps inadvertently,
placed a certain gravity on a statement issued by CDOT spokesperson Tamara
Rollison, who explained “It appears water has gotten underneath the section
that’s collapsing. It looks like it’s unraveling.”
At this point in the story, the term “collapsing soils” was
introduced as a possible culprit. A blog published by CPR offered a statement
from professor of construction engineering management at CU Boulder, Cristina
Torres-Machi. It states: “[Torres-Machi] said it looks like a nearly textbook
example of what she called ‘slope failure,’ essentially a landslide … She
said it’s likely because of collapsing soils.”
Just in case (like most folks) you are not a geology major,
collapsing soils are comprised of dry, low-density particles which can
withstand significant impact without losing volume. Once water is introduced,
however, the particles break apart, densify and undergo a significant reduction
in volume. Oftentimes this results in the sudden appearance of a sinkhole.
In early August, a phone interview with Colorado Geological
Survey Senior Engineering Geologist Jonathan White revealed contrary
information that seemed to muddy the waters. Professor White explained that the
embankment supporting the highway was comprised of “highly saturated, already
wet soils” and the sinkhole was “most likely caused by a lateral landslide” and
“was not the result of the presence of collapsing soils.” Professor White
explained further that the wetlands adjacent to the highway were inherently
responsible for the preliminary presence of moisture in the soil beneath the
highway. He finished by stating that sudden influx of more water did not cause
a collapsing soil situation and the disaster was more likely attributable to
“an engineering issue.”
Who’s Going To Pay For This?
If Professor White is indeed correct, then upon whose
shoulders gets foisted the blame? If it is neither the cause of collapsing
soils or the effects of plain ol’ gravity, then by default, human error takes
the spotlight. Regardless, the road must be repaired. A massive reconstruction
project was launched as soon as engineers determined the debris and soil had
ceased to shift and collapse.
This section of highway was completed just over five years
ago in a joint venture between Granite Construction of California and Ames
Construction of Aurora. By all estimations, it should most certainly not be
crumbling, yet until engineering failure on the behalf of the contractors is found
to be the cause, other monies have been allocated to pay for the
reconstruction.
With Colorado’s massive influx of marijuana-based tax
revenue, it is clear the $20.4 million repair and reimbursement estimate should
be easy to meet by this revenue stream alone. After all, in 2019 alone, total
tax revenue is projected by the Colorado Department of Revenue to be somewhere
around the $30 million mark. Some experts believe it stands to reason that
coffers swelling with monetary influx that was virtually nonexistent when that
section of the road was built should rightly be tapped to remedy its untimely
demise. Yet, when pressed for information on where the “contingency funds”
allocated by the State Transportation Commission were being siphoned from,
representatives of CDOT, Colorado Department of Revenue and Colorado Department
of the Treasury declined to elaborate. A representative of the latter (who
refused to be named) offered only the tersely toned retort “… well, first of
all, treasury is not revenue.” Whatever that is supposed to mean, it sounds
about as solid as collapsing soil.
The latest Cirque du Solei show to come to Denver is Corteo,
written and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca. Corteo, which has been seen by
eight million people around the world, tells the story of a clown picturing his
own funeral, which takes place at a carnival and is witnessed by angels.
Corteo, which means “cortege” in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive
parade imagined by a clown.
Bouncing Beds: Like a gaggle of young kids playing in their grandparents’ room, six artists jump on two 600-pound beds that move on rotating platforms.
The show first premiered in 2005 under the big top in
Montreal and has been since updated for arenas in March 2018, keeping the
original story intact. The show features 51 performers, including acrobats,
clowns, musicians and actors.
Cirque du Solei has been entertaining Colorado audiences
since 1997. “We always have a great responsive audience there and we love to
perform in a place where people react well and enjoy our shows and I think it
adds a lot to the show,” said Max Batista, Tour Publicist for Cirque Corteo.
The stage has a unique setup as it will be set up in the
center of the arena and audience members will be on either side with good sight
views. Set Designer Jean Rabasse has divided the Grand Chapiteau and its
rotating stage in two, with each half of the audience facing the other half, so
they see not only the performance, but also have a performer’s eye view of the
audience. There is one turntable built into the stage, which is about 41 feet
long, and the track is almost 120 feet long.
This show also features six musicians and two singers who
are on stage with the performers. Typically, musicians and singers are hidden
from the audience but in Corteo, they are part of the show. “People can see us
all during the show,” said Eve Willems who plays the accordion, guitar, and
mandolin in Corteo.
Corteo: In this Cirque du Soleil a clown imagines his own funeral as a carnival of sorts, blending the ridiculous with the tragic. The show will be performed nine times from August 15 to August 22 at Pepsi Center.
The music accompanies the show and features different styles
of music including Spanish and Irish. Willems, who submitted her video
application to become a part of the show via Facebook, enjoys being part of
Cirque. “At first for me it was to discover all the different talents and I was
amazed to see all these people doing their tricks,” said Willems. “Now that we
have started, I like traveling with all these people and make people dream and
it’s really nice to be part of it.”
The show lasts two hours and 30 minutes (with a 20-minute intermission) and is packed
with death defying feats fans have come to expect from Cirque shows.
As Licensing Disappears For Property Managers, HOA Issues Rise To The Fore
by Ruthy Wexler
Everyone thought HB 1212 would pass.
What House Bill 19-1212 did was reinstate the licensing
program for Community Association Managers (CAMs), which was set to expire July
1, 2019. The bill extended CAM licensing for just one year, during which time
stakeholders were charged with exploring the issue.
Surprising Veto: Governor Jared Polis’s (pictured with Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera) veto of HB 1212 surprised legislators, management companies, homeowners and HOA activists, leaving them all to wonder whether this Governor will be approaching the HOA situation as fearlessly and creatively as he has approached education, health care and health costs. The upcoming stakeholder meetings regarding CAM licensing and HOA issues, in August, September and October, will reveal how deep the conversation about HOAs will go.
As legislators put HB 1212 together, the usual suspects
tried to shape it. Homeowner advocate Stan Hrincevich, pleaded for the
inclusion of additional homeowner protections; e.g., ensuring managers document
and disclose fees; while the Colorado Legislative Action Committee — legal arm
of CAI (Community Association Institute), an international lobby representing
management companies, property managers, HOA attorneys and other benefiting
vendors — fought to keep such regulatory measures out.
The bill’s sponsors — Representatives Monica Duran and
Brianna Titone, Senators Nancy Todd and Rhonda Fields — ended up incorporating
most of CAI’s requests, but none from Hrincevich, who voiced disappointment but
also relief that “CAM licensing would be kept alive.” The bill passed the
Assembly and Senate.
Then on May 31, Governor Jared Polis vetoed HB 1212. Ever
since, the Colorado HOA world has been trying to understand what lies ahead.
What’s The Big Deal?
In his two-page veto letter, Polis expressed concerns over
“occupational licensing” — the subject of three of the five bills he’d vetoed
(out of 460 passed). Such licensing, he said, might “… prevent minorities and
the economically disadvantaged from … access[ing] occupations.”
Polis’s concerns, many feel, had little to do with CAM
licensing, an issue one homeowner described as the “tip of an iceberg with huge
dangerous issues below everyone is afraid to fight.”
“Here’s the essence,” says Hrincevich. “The HOA Property
Manager Licensing law was the only path homeowners had to address wrongdoing on
the part of a manager.”
Colorado homeowners had no recourse at all — short of going
to court, which was too costly and intimidating to be a real option — until
2015, when Colorado passed a law that regulated HOA property managers.
Individuals had to pass background checks, get certified, pay a fee and pass an
exam, in order to earn a CAM license.
At that point, if a homeowner believed their property
manager was behaving illegally, they could file a complaint, citing their CAM’s
license number, with the Real Estate Division inside DORA, which had awarded
that CAM license — and could take it away.
The process was slow, the results not always to the
homeowner’s liking, but, says homeowner and retired financial analyst Barb
DeHart, “It allowed homeowners not to feel entirely helpless.”
All Counties Heard From
Post Polis’s veto, reactions varied widely. Legislators,
believing they’d done what was necessary to pass the bill, felt betrayed. “I
was completely shocked,” said Duran. “Greatly disappointed. The work we’d done
to protect homeowners … has been undone.”
HOA homeowners who had been following this issue felt
betrayed also, and afraid. “It’s bad enough with [CAM] licensing,” wrote P., a
Denver homeowner fearing reprisal from her property manager. “What will [name
of manager] do with no oversight at all??”
“As of July 1,” said
HOA activist Andrea Antico. “management companies … can do anything they want.”
Realtors were appalled. Live Urban Real Estate listed
possible “outcomes of this loss of consumer protection.” Linda Chapman, realtor
for over 35 years, called the veto “unconscionable.” She explained, “Management
companies and property managers handle millions and millions of dollars of
other people’s money. All other industries performing fiduciary duties are
required to be licensed and regulated. Except CAMs.”
HOA attorneys appeared lighthearted. “Community association
manager licensing is no more!” wrote Elina Gilbert of Altitude Law, in a blog
titled, Why Oh Why Did Manager Licensing Die? One HOA attorney described
colleagues as “… happily anticipating lots of business …”
One community manager, Sue McClure, said the veto felt like a “slap in the face to those of us that have made the effort to … be professional,” while another, Joe Felice, said he agreed with the Governor. “I don’t believe licensing helped homeowners or associations in any substantive way. … “
Property manager Alec Hrynevich, of Accord Management, said, “I’m not opposed to licensing. But it doesn’t do in this case what it’s supposed to do.”
More than a few managers and homeowners agreed that abuses
within HOAs would not necessarily have been prevented if CAM licensing was in
effect.
Change The Conversation
The HOA Office releases a report each year that summarizes
the complaints they’ve received from homeowners. In 2018, high on the list was
management companies and property managers not following their HOA’s governing
documents; close behind were poor manager communication, selective enforcement
of covenants and failure to produce records, required under Colorado HOA law.
Testify: CAI member Brandon Helm testifies in front of the Colorado House Finance Committee in support of HB1212, the “pre-amended” form of the bill that CAI called, “the version we support.” For many years, the CAI Colorado Legislative Action Committee told legislators they represented the entire HOA community. Homeowners comprise only 2% of CAI membership.
Accompanying Polis’s veto was an Executive Order, number D
2019 006, directing DORA to “lead a … comprehensive review of CAMs and HOAs.”
Many homeowners felt excited at the prospect of an open conversation about
HOAs.
Since Polis took office, he’s made it clear how hard he will
push for issues he is passionate about, like education and health care. He has
not made it clear if HOA reform is one of those issues, although Hrincevich
noted, “Leaving out further consumer protections [in HB 1212] is what Polis
seemed mostly to object to.”
What CAI appears to
mostly object to is regulation within HOAs. A map on their website resembles a
campaign war room, blue outlining the few states with CAM licensing; click on
each state and see what stage the legal battle around that issue has reached.
“Stay up to date on CAM licensing and its impact on associations,” encourages
CAI Senior Vice President Dawn Bauman.
“With the veto of HB 19-1212,” states Polis in his Executive
Order, “the State has an opportunity to change the conversation about … CAMs
and HOAs.” As per that order, stakeholder meetings will be held on August 14
and 29, September 12 and October 8 at the DORA offices. Registration is open.
Wall Of Love: Jack Welner points to a photo of Lori Goldberg, his special friend. All around him is his “wall of love,” photos of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, evidence that — despite his grievous losses — Welner stayed open to life and love. His advice to people: “Don’t let your past ruin your future. Live life to the fullest.”
At 98, Jack Welner’s face shines with the eager ebullience
of a 6-year-old. His eyes twinkle with fun. That’s the kind of boy Welner was
back in Lodz, Poland — helpful, fun-loving, excited about life — and by all
accounts, that’s the kind of man he became. In between, however, came the
Holocaust, and — because Welner is Jewish — unimaginable suffering.
Through Auschwitz, Dachau, labor camps, a death march — how,
people ask, did you stay the same person? Looking back over the years, Welner
explains how he kept bitterness out of his heart and held onto the twinkle in
his eye.
Take This, You’ll Need It
Death Camp: The Auschwitz death camp was a complex of over 40 concentration and extermination camps built and operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II and the Holocaust. Jack Welner arrived at Auschwitz in 1944.
It’s not that Welner forgot what happened. He shares memories
so vivid, you are there: watching how fast the Germans turn a corner of Lodz
into a barbed wire ghetto; seeing guards shoot Jews in the ghetto streets “just
for practice”; pretending — along with the seven other family members crammed
into one room with no toilet or running water — that the beet leaves your
mother salted and fried taste just like herring.
“We were starving [in the ghetto],” recalls Welner. “Just
before we got on the train [for Auschwitz], we got a little piece of bread.
Late that night, we arrived. I helped mother down from the train. She still had
her bread. She pushed it into my hand. ‘Here. Take this. You’ll need it.’”
Welner’s eyes fill with tears. “Those were the last words my
mother said to me.”
Look For Luck
After the war, when Welner was in a safer place — Denver,
CO! — and heard “even a little bit of antisemitism” he’d speak up. “I left
Poland to get rid of SOBs like you, so you better shut up.”
“Later,” he adds, “we’d become friends.”
Young Boy: Thirteen-year-old Jacob Welniarz, who became Jack Welner in America, poses for a photo in his boyhood city of Lodz, Poland. He had no idea that in six years, his family would be torn apart and he would be sent to the Auschwitz death camp.
But back when hatred of Jews was law, Welner searched for small ways to survive. In a labor camp near Dachau, a guard kept beating Welner with a 2×4 so brutally, “I knew I would die if he kept it up … so I sank to the ground and began crying. Not so much from pain, but I had to … do something.”
Welner adds emphatically: “In my mind, I was saying, ‘I will survive you, you SOB!’”
Later on in that camp, “… my luck changed. A machine
operator took a liking to me. I was suffering from an ulcer. He let me lie
down. He brought me rinds of bread to eat.
“He saved my life,” concludes Welner, who, after the war,
traveled twice to Munich to bring food to that guard.
Welner was still able to feel empathy.
Many had lost that capacity.
“I had a cousin, blonde, she survived by working as a maid
in a Warsaw hotel, disguised as a Christian,” Welner recalls. “When the
[Warsaw] ghetto was burning, someone laughed, ‘Look, the bedbugs are frying.’
Her family was inside that ghetto and she had to stand there, crying, saying
nothing …”
Welner shakes his head. He tells how, upon arriving back in
Lodz after being liberated, the first words he heard from a Christian were,
“Oh, a lot of you Jews are still alive.”
L’Chaim (To Life)
Welner shares such memories seriously, like one delivering a
valuable package. Now one more person knows and will not forget. But he is not
inclined to dwell on or analyze the horror. Asked about antisemitism, Welner
shrugs. “That’s how it was. Always the Jew was the scapegoat.”
When the subject turns, however, to his three children, six
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Welner’s face lights up like a
100-candle birthday cake. He enthuses at length about each one. It glows when
he converses about travel or music. And when he sings.
Welner loves to sing.
Quilt: So moved by Welner’s visit and what he shared about his experience during the Holocaust, one school decided to make Welner a quilt. Each child created a square in the quilt that shows what they got from hearing Welner speak.
“I love Italian,” he
rhapsodizes. “I still remember songs from Italy [where he was in a DP camp].”
In the ghetto, Welner recalls, there was a Jewish composer
who wrote satiric songs. Welner sings one in Yiddish, then translates: “Such a
disaster, you have to eat every day, the stomach always wants more and more…
“We needed to laugh,” he recalls.
Welner adores jokes. Laughing uproariously (but never
ruining the punch line), Welner tells a joke about the cow from Minsk. The
farmer and the bull. The one where two friends enter a bakery: “‘Moishe, look
at that wonderful bagel!’ ‘Oh, but it’s got a big hole in the middle!”’
Optimist
“I see the bagel, not the hole,” Welner explains. “I’m an
optimist.”
At 31, Welner anticipated a happy future when he met a
beautiful girl, Adele. They married and moved to Denver. Seven years later,
Adele died, leaving Welner with three small children and a broken heart.
Welner moved to Israel for five years to be near his
sisters, then back to Denver, where he worked as a carpenter and raised his
kids. Despite the disappointment of a subsequent marriage not working out, “My
father always enjoyed life,” recalls Welner’s daughter Beverly. “Our home was
filled with love and laughter.”
As a Holocaust Survivor, Welner spoke to schools and groups
in Denver and surrounding areas. Then in 1995, the Shoah Foundation sent Lori
Goldberg to interview Welner.
The two connected.
“We became best friends, sharing life’s joys and challenges,” says Goldberg, who, coincidentally, in the first years of their relationship, saw Welner on Tuesdays.
“He was my Morrie,” she says, alluding to the book, Tuesdays with Morrie. “From Jack, I learned about courage, resiliency, hope, and love.”
My Motto
“Jack has taught me, no matter how difficult life can be, one should never give up hope, one should never stop loving,” said Goldberg.
“My motto,” Welner says, “is, ‘Don’t let the past ruin your
future. If you live in the past, you don’t have a future.’”
“I receive so much more from Jack than I could ever give,” says Welner’s caregiver, Linda Chambers. “It is an honor to know him. He will not allow hate to grow in his heart.”
Chronicle’s Guide To Showing Your Mom How Much You Appreciate All She
Has Done For You
Mum’s the word in May. The English idiom expressed by
William Shakespeare in Henry VI reminds us May 12 is Mother’s Day. It’s the
special day when you get to celebrate your first best friend and the person you
turn to when you need advice.
Mama’s Day: May 12 is Mother’s Day, the day when each of us celebrate our best friend and the person we turn to for advice.
Mothers are like glue. Even when you can’t see them, they’re
still holding the family together. For most women motherhood is a joy — a least
some of the time. It is the catalyst that opens new connections as well as new
stresses in a woman’s relationships with her partner, siblings and friends.
The idea of honoring mothers with a special day dates from
the 19th century; In 1908, Anna Jarvis led a campaign to celebrate Mother’s Day
in May. In 1914 a resolution by Congress and a presidential proclamation
established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Here’s Chronicle’s guide
for showing your mother, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and friends how special they
are:
Afternoon Tea
Let mom relax in style at the Brown Palace’s Traditional
Afternoon Tea in the historic hotel’s legendary atrium lobby. You’ll be served
tea, scones, pastries and dainty sandwiches, all artfully prepared by the
hotel’s culinary staff. More: She’ll enjoy the soothing sounds of a harp or
pianist playing classical, jazz and pop standards. Information 303-297-3111.
Relax With Mom: For a tranquil afternoon your mom won’t soon forget take her to the Brown Palace for old-fashioned tea service with scones, pastries and sandwiches.
Or, take her to Mother’s Day afternoon tea at the historic
Molly Brown House where she will love the savory sandwiches, sweet treats and
specially blended tea, plus a chance to stop in the museum store. Information:
303-832-4092.
Dining With Mom
Mother’s Day only happens once a year so it’s best to make
the most of it by bringing the family together at the Monaco Inn Restaurant. A
dining experience like no other, specials include Lamb Shank, Lamb Chop &
Grilled Shrimp, New York Steak & Fried Shrimp and Grilled Trout all priced
under $25. The regular dinner menu is also available for mom and the family.
Brunch is being served from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Information: 303-320-1104.
Dining Date: For Mother’s Day dining like none other take her and the family to the Monaco Inn Restaurant. Serving five specials including this New York Steak & Fried Shrimp. Regular dinner menu also available.
Mother’s Day brunches are happening all over the city. A top
choice is the Dom Perignon champagne brunch at Ellyngton’s in the Brown Palace
downtown known for its carving stations and seafood selections. Information:
303-297-3111. Or, dazzle your mom this year at Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge
on Curtis St. with live jazz performed by the Julie Monley Quartet from 9
a.m.-2 p.m. on Mother’s Day. Information: 303-839-5100. Other choices are the
Tavern Lowry (303-366-0007) serving a brunch buffet from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and the
Del Frisco’s Grill (303-320-8529) in Cherry Creek.
Flowers
Present mom with a fragrant bouquet of freshly cut,
elegantly arranged flowers. Choose from these top floral shops that can help
you find the perfect arrangement for mom:
Remember Flowers: A fragrant bouquet of freshly cut, elegantly arranged flowers are the perfect way to begin mom’s day. This bouquet is by Valley florist Perfect Petal.
Bloom — Upscale florist offering chic floral arrangements
plus accessories for mom on 3rd Ave. at University Blvd. Information:
720-941-2862.
Bouquets — Located in lower downtown, it was named one of
America’s top 10 florists by Bon Appetit Magazine. Information: 303-333-5500.
Flower Power — A cozy, unfussy Wash Park neighborhood
florist offering a sizable selection of flowers. Information: 303-777-6266.
Perfect Petal — Creative Highlands florist providing custom
arrangements plus a boutique section with gifts for mom. Information:
303-480-0966.
Theater
Treat mom to an afternoon of exhilarating musical theatre
with Sweat or Wicked at the Denver Performing Arts Complex or indulge her love
for classical music during a performance of Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique at
Boettcher Concert Hall also in the DCPA. Information: 303-893-4100.
Entertainment: Divert and amuse mom by taking her to the theatre on her special day. The musical Wicked is one of this year’s options.
Or for a hilarious comedy both you and mom will enjoy, get
tickets to Noel Coward’s silly, rebellious 1925 comedy Hay Fever. It opens
Mother’s Day weekend and plays at the John Hand Theater in Lowry each weekend
through June 8, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Information: 303-455-7108.
Planned 2019 Test Flight To Hit Speeds Of 1,688 MPH;
Denver Co-Founders Raise $150 Million For Start-Up Firm
Future Boom Operator: Japan Airlines has invested $10 million in Boom and was given a special tour of the Denver headquarters. The airline has pre-ordered 20 aircraft and got a peek at the XB-1.
The XB-1 aircraft dubbed Baby Boom — a one-third-scale
supersonic demonstrator — being built by Denver-based Boom Supersonic plans its
first test flight later this year. Designed to reach speeds of up to 1,688
miles per hour or twice the speed of sound, it is the prototype for a
commercial 55-passenger plane with a range of 5,180 miles to be introduced by
2023.
Co-founded by Denverites Blake Scholl and Josh Krall in
2014, the firm had raised $151 million by January of this year. Among the
startup investors were several venture funds that kicked in $33 million in
March 2017. In December 2017 Japan Airlines invested another $10 million,
enough to build the XB-1 “Baby Boom.” Then in January Boom Supersonic was given
another $100 million by Apple founder Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs.
Supersonic Building Boom: Co-founded by Denverites Blake Scholl and Josh Krall in 2014, Boom Supersonic plans a test flight of the XB-1 aircraft dubbed Baby Boom this year.
Comfortably Close: The 55-seat plane named the Boom Overture will be able to fly from New York to London, Paris to Montreal, and Madrid to Boston in under four hours or less than half the time of conventional jets.
Boom says its aircraft — with a price estimate of $200
million — will produce a sonic boom at least 30 times quieter than the
Concorde, which was also dogged by high operating costs and fuel consumption
plus low capacity utilization. Boom estimates that fares for its aircraft will
be 75% lower than the Concorde and comparable to current business class
tickets, due to better fuel efficiency.
Pre-Orders Booming
Boom has 76 pre-orders for the 55-seat plane. The first
commercial airline to back the venture with investments was British airline
Virgin Atlantic that has options for 10 of the new aircraft. They made the deal
14 years after the final flight of the Concorde. In addition Japan Airlines has
the option to purchase up to 20 Boom aircraft and will assist efforts to hone
the aircraft’s design and passenger experience, according to the companies.
Called the Boom Overture, the 55-seat plane will be able to
fly from New York to London, Paris to Montreal, and Madrid to Boston in under
four hours — less than half the time of conventional jets. Although the plane will
have fewer than half the seats of a Concorde, company officials say it will
have a much better range — a staggering 5,180 miles.
The supersonic jet will also be more economical, and its
sonic boom will be “at least 30 times quieter” than Concorde, the company
claims. They also say that when it comes to landing and take-off: “Overture
will be as quiet as the subsonic aircraft flying similar routes today.”
Mach 2.2 Speed
The firm says its jetliner — expected to enter service by
the mid 2020s — will fly at speeds of Mach 2.2, 10% faster than the
British-French joint venture Concorde, which popularized supersonic jet travel
in the 1970s.
With 500 viable routes, there could be a market for 1,000
supersonic airliners with business class fares. It expects to keep the delta
wing configuration of the Concorde but would be built with composite materials.
It would be powered by three dry 15,000 20,000 lbf (67-89 kN) turbofans; a
derivative or a clean sheet design will be selected in 2019.
General Electric Co., Honeywell International Inc. and
Netherlands-based TenCate Advanced Composites are among suppliers for the
Denver firm’s supersonic jets.
Accessible Planet
The Denver-based company was founded for the express purpose
of making our planet dramatically more accessible. “We are taking proven
science and engineering and using it to build a Mach-2.2 airliner that will
kick off the supersonic era. And we are making the company a place where the
best people on the planet can be inspired and enabled to do the best and most
meaningful work of their careers,” says Founder-CEO Blake Scholl.
Blake’s Baby: Making high-speed travel mainstream is why Blake Scholl, who lives in Denver and is the father of three, founded Boom Supersonic.
Speed isn’t about going really fast Scholl says, “It’s about
closeness. It’s about making far-away places feel like they’re right around the
corner.” His point: Some people say that speed makes the world smaller. But at
Mach 2.2, the planet is as big as ever. Life is bigger when it is experienced
in person — with supersonic speeds, we’ll all experience a bigger world than
ever before.
Over long distances people don’t think in miles and kilometers.
They think in hours,” the CEO clarifies. He explains it this way: Crossing the
U.S. takes about five hours. Going from New York to Dubai takes about 14. Speed
isn’t about going really fast. It’s about closeness. It’s about making far away
places feel like they’re right around the corner. If we can fly twice as fast,
the world becomes twice as small, turning far off lands into familiar
neighbors.
Founding Trio
Making high-speed travel mainstream is exactly why Scholl
who lives in Denver and is the father of three founded Boom Supersonic. With a
BS in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon, he has held leadership roles at
Amazon and Groupon and co-founded mobile technology startup Kima Labs that was
acquired by Groupon in 2012.
Engineering Change: The first go of Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 engines on a U.S. Air Force Academy test cell ran to 95% of power.
Sitting at the intersection of engineering, design, and marketing, Josh Krall — who also lives here — co-founded Boom with Scholl. He also attended Carnegie Mellon and has an MBA-MPP from Chicago Booth. Co-founder of two startups, his technical work includes owning multidisciplinary design automation software used for conceptual and preliminary aircraft design. He is leading Boom’s efforts to re-imagine the experience of flying and to craft the company’s brand.
Andy Cipra is the third member of the Boom team. He served
as head of marketing at Denver’s Dish Network where he created partnerships
with Southwest Airlines, Apple and Netflix. Most recently he was Chief
Marketing-Commercial Officer for several start-ups in the healthcare and
technology space. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Purdue and an
MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
