The Denver Urban Redevelopment Authority (DURA) is contracting with Denver Industrial LLC and the Inner-City Community Development Corporation (ICDC) to redevelop the 3800 York Street brownfields site into a fully functional business park. This development, known as the Innerlock Business Park, is expected to create at least 1,000 new light manufacturing and office jobs in the area and provide needed training opportunities and daycare. The York Street initiative includes an $18 million redevelopment plan to be spent over 5 years until the project is completed.

Site History
The 37-acre York Street site in northeast Denver was originally built to house U.S. Army medical supplies from 1942-1946. Asbestos-containing materials were used in the construction, and polychloronated biphenyls (PCBs) were used in the electrical transformers. In 1951, the property was transferred to the U.S. Air Force, and functioned as a finance and accounting center until 1969. The property was then conveyed by the General Services Administration (GSA) to the City of Denver and the Denver Public School System in 1977 at a 100% public benefit discount.

Over the next 14 years, the city used 3800 York Street as a health clinic, drug detoxification center and temporary shelter, and the school system used part of the site as a storage facility for school property. With time, the buildings on the site fell into disrepair. In 1991, the City of Denver turned the site back over to the Federal Government. The Denver Public Schools followed suit in 1993. Following this action, the site was vandalized resulting in further environmental damage.

Community & Political Background
In 1994 GSA was contacted by the city for the purpose of discussing the redevelopment of the site. ICDC and the councilman brought the city into proactive discussions with GSA. The city placed DURA in charge of determining the feasibility of revitalization of the property through the reacquisition of the property.

DURA purchased the site in September 1998 through a negotiated sale with GSA, with the understanding that the required remediation of PCB's had been completed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a letter indicating that DURA was not a Potentially Responsible Party(PRP), with respect to PCB contamination, thus releasing DURA from any CERCLA liability. DURA will pay approximately $600,000 for the remediation of asbestos on the property through a grant by the Office of Economic Development. In addition, DURA and its successors are responsible for inspecting and maintaining environmental compliance.

Strategic & Economic Impact
The 3800 York Street initiative is part of a plan to return the economically depressed Clayton neighborhood in Denver back into productive use. The existing structures on the site will be used as a small business development center, daycare facility, medical/dental service clinic, and industrial office/warehouse space.