By Ted Fischer
November 21, 2005

Cinderella City, the Rocky Mountain region’s largest covered shopping center with more than 250 stores in five climate-controlled malls became Englewood (CO)'s biggest Brownfield project. Built back in 1968 and the largest mall on the west side of the Mississippi River, Cinderella City was a thriving marvel for shoppers and gazers alike. In 1997 after falling into disrepair, Cinderella City Mall presented Englewood with an option to turn the property into something more then just another vacant brownfield site. This year’s EPA Brownfield’s meeting hosted by Denver featured a mobile workshop that educated meeting attendees on how Englewood remediated and rebuilt Cinderella City into a city center and light rail transportation hub. What remains of Foley’s department store, an anchor of the former Cinderella City site is now the cities- municipal building complete with library, city courts and rooms in which community groups can meet. The site is now a thriving city center for Englewood, complete with a Wal-Mart and other shopping and dinning opportunities, plus more the 200 rental properties. Along with the new city center of Englewood, meeting attendees were also treated to a look at the former city landfill site which has become Millennium Park, a city park and ball field.

The mobile workshop also gave meeting attendees view of a newly acquired Brownfield site, which is currently under construction and remediation as well as an example of the finished project in Englewood. The Gates Rubber Factory a historical site for Denver was recently acquired by Cherokee Investment Partners, who are working actively to redevelop and re-envision the site, was also toured by meeting attendees. Cherokee plans a redevelopment similar to what was viewed in Englewood. The Gates Factory site, which is situated on 55 Acres is going to become a shopping, transportation and living experience complete with parks and a connection to Denver’s Light Rail system.