Below is an advertisement for Centennial from The Aspen Times, November 1984, the same week developer Sam Brown held an open house for his model condo.
Let’s examine the claims Brown and his company, Centennial Partners, used to sell Centennial to Aspen’s employees, elected officials, govt. staff, and APCHA.
**Make note of the last paragraph in the ad as you explore the rest of this website
- Redwood Siding for Beauty and Durability
- The beautiful Redwood siding was painted over. It was installed tongue-in-groove rather than the widely-used overlapped method causing gaps in which water running down the sides of the buildings can easily find its way inside. The siding is durable and ideal for hiding long-standing structural rot and mold.
- Standing Seam Metal Roofs
- The metal roofs are not inherently weather-proof. The roof design causes ice dams, the major source of the water intrusion. This type of roof is intended to have a 60-year lifespan. In 1995, James Wilson, the former Pitkin County Building official who had signed Centennial’s Certificate of Occupancy 10 years earlier, recommended a complete re-design and replacement of the roofs after only a decade of use.
- Windows Sealed with Silicone that lasts longer than standard caulking
- Water leaks into condos’ interiors started in 1987, 2 years after Centennial was finished. Documents from that time cite improperly caulked and sealed windows and doors as the primary cause. The HOA was forced to replace leaking windows, normally an owner’s responsibility. James Wilson [mentioned above] recommended that all windows and doors be replaced after only ten years of use.
- Schlage Locks for Dependability
- Locks?! This is Aspen, Colorado in 1984. Anyway…its a door knob.
- Walls and Ceilings Insulated far beyond Normal Requirements
- Numerous industry consultants and experts have cited Centennial’s poor energy-efficiency qualities. Ground floor units are incredibly cold and upper units are often too hot. Insulation is missing from critical areas and much insulation became water-logged and useless years ago. Owners are faced with enormous utility bills as a result.
- Tripled Glazed Windows
- The glass may be triple glazed, but vapor seals on windows not designed for high altitude broke immediately negating the insulating qualities of the glass. The aluminum frames are well-suited for transferring cold outside air temperatures to the condos’ interiors. Many windows had to be replaced in the first few years due to improper sealing.
- Walls with Resiliant Acoustical Channels for Maximum Noise Suppression
- Centennial is well-known for its excessive noise levels. Every toilet flush, every footstep, every appliance, every louder than average conversation can be clearly heard between units. Numerous articles and letters have appeared in local papers citing noise issues. Ask any owner or renter or visit a Centennial unit yourself.
- Abundant Storage Space
- True
- Lots of Readily Accessible Parking
- Also, true
- Spectacular Views
- Definitely true
