Cherokee has made a great deal of progress on the clean up effort. Since purchasing the property, Cherokee Denver's cleanup efforts have included asbestos and regulated materials removal from buildings, and active participation in the Colorado Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment Act (Voluntary Cleanup). The asbestos and regulated materials are removed from buildings as part of safe practices for future building demolition. Voluntary Cleanup allows Cherokee to clean the property to State-approved cleanup levels while minimizing administrative processes and costs. As part of the regulatory-enforceable Voluntary Cleanup program, Cherokee has initiated cleanup activities that are committed to protecting human health and the environment and focus on obtaining a “No Further Action” statement from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The project includes a phased approach to environmental clean-up that is necessary due to many years of industrial use. Initial plans and community input have proven that a transit-oriented development (TOD) is the greatest asset that this site can offer those in the area. The TOD will be achieved by leveraging the existing light-rail station as well as RTD services and access to I-25.

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Community Meetings
Over 150 community members attended several meetings sponsored by Denver City Council Members Kathleen MacKenzie, Carol Boigon, Rosemary Rodriguez and Judy Montero. Representatives from the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE), Denver's Department of Environmental Health (DEH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented information on the environmental conditions surrounding the Cherokee Denver Redevelopment. At the meetings, CDPHE, DEH and EPA agreed that residents are currently safe by all measures with respect to potential exposure to TCE emanating from the former Gates Rubber Factory. Cherokee also announced that clean up actions have already begun at the source area and in the off-site neighborhood. Since remedial actions have been successful offsite, it is expected that residents will continue to be safe from potential TCE exposure from the Cherokee Redevelopment site. Cherokee will continue its proactive monitoring and clean up activities as part of the successful and safe redevelopment of this property

Cherokee bought a portion the former Gates property in December, 2001 knowing it was contaminated and with the full commitment to clean up contamination on or migrating from the property in complete compliance with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's (CDPHE's) standards and guidelines. The portion of the property that Cherokee owns is approximately bound by I-25 on the north, Broadway Avenue on the east, Mississippi Avenue on the south, and Sante Fe to the west. (see maps)