Air Force chapel's reopening date set for 2028

Driving the news: Brig. Gen. Pat Miller, commander of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, outlined a new timeline for completion at the Academy's Board of Visitors meeting earlier this week.

• He said the white covering should come down by July 2027, and the building will reopen for use in May 2028, the Gazette reported. The public opening may not come until August.

What he's saying: "We've worked really hard to take down barriers to get into the finances to make sure we're holding the contractor accountable, but also reducing the bureaucracy," Miller said.

Flashback: When the renovations started in 2019, officials expected it to take just four years and cost $69 million.

Reality check: Now, seven years later, the initial cost has ballooned fivefold to $335 million, the Gazette reported.

• And the white box protecting the structure throughout repairs is "an eyesore for the entire Colorado Springs community," said Zach Miller, a graduate, who spoke at the meeting.