Urban Renewal

Gresham's 20-year urban renewal plan includes improving Rockwood's economy and community. It's a partnership among residents, property and business owners, and the City of Gresham.

A citywide vote in 2003 established the 1,211-acre Rockwood-West Gresham urban renewal area. In 2022, Gresham voters approved extending the urban renewal district from 2023-2029. This gives the City more time to spend approximately $37 million over the next years on new projects.

B188 is a new redevelopment project at the former Sunrise Center and Asian Kitchen property at the 188th MAX station.

• This community-focused investment proposes a new school, gymnasium for sports and events, landscaped gathering space, workforce training and small business retail spaces.
• Public involvement over past year included public workshops, online engagement via Engage Gresham and participation at community events.
• Project updates and presentations were delivered at the Rockwood Neighborhood Association, GRDC and GRDC Advisory Committee.

Learn more about B188: English | Español | Pусский | tiếng Việt

• Invested $44.1 million in the Rockwood-West Gresham area.
• Attracted $179.2 million in private investments. 
• Added 670 jobs to the urban renewal area through 40 new businesses. Average salary: $62,000 a year. 
• Generated $161 million in new-business revenue that can be sent back to the community. 
• Awarded 86 grants to the community that funded business expansion, storefront improvements, construction support, and repairs to apartments to provide 1,652 living spaces that are safe and energy efficient. 

Read the 2020 Rockwood report

2029 Framework 

In partnership with robust community engagement, staff completed the 2029 Community Investment Framework. It identifies priorities for future urban renewal spending. Key investments are consistent with the Renewal Plan and include projects for community safety, economic opportunity, housing, transportation, and community development.

Downtown Rockwood

Downtown Rockwood hosted several events over the year in partnership with the GRDC at the Rockwood Market Hall. Some of these events include: Cinco de Mayo, Kickoff to Summer, Play Ball, Movies in the Park, Rock the Block, the Yamhill Block Party and Reindeer in Rockwood.

AVIVA Apartments

Construction is complete on Downtown Rockwood's AVIVA Apartments, a 5‐story commercial and residential building. This mixed‐use development is focused on supporting economic stability and improving access to community services, retail, housing, and public space.

Fire Station 74

Staff are working with consultants on initial designs for a new fire station that would replace Fire Station 74. Gresham Fire Station 74 is located within the Rockwood‐West Gresham urban renewal area and is one of seven fire stations serving the City of Gresham.

Property acquisitions

The GRDC completed two purchases at 18428-18432 E Burnside and at 18450 SE Stark St. Both acquisitions will be incorporated into future redevelopment plans. The property at 18450 SE Stark was formerly used as a custom cabinet and wood shop, and staff are exploring opportunities to utilize the property for community education, training and workshop space.

We have been listening to the Gresham community for many years about what desires and aspirations they have for investments and improvements in our city. Despite all the planning that has gone into many of these areas of improvement, there have been many challenges along the way that stall progress, largely due to lack of financial resources.

By leveraging community support and recent success in revitalizing downtown Rockwood-West Gresham, we have another opportunity to utilize a powerful urban renewal tool in tax incremental financing (TIF) to help spur investments in our downtown and civic core and make some of these dreams a reality over the next thirty years. The size of this urban renewal area is approximately 900 acres and located in the Downtown-Civic area. View the Downtown-Civic urban renewal boundary map.

This work started in 2023 with a study to see if the proposed area could be part of the urban renewal program and if it would help the community. After finding that the plan could bring many benefits, the City Manager created a group to help improve the plan. The group met throughout 2024, and now there is a draft plan that will be presented to the Gresham City Council for review and approval. The timeline for the draft plan and presentation is May - September 2025. After the plan is adopted in September, the team will have 30 years to implement the plan. 

Does Gresham have other urban renewal districts?

Yes, the Rockwood-West Gresham urban renewal plan was established by a city-wide vote in 2003 and will close out in 2029. This proposed Downtown-Civic plan would be the second district established in Gresham’s history.

Is this a new tax or does it increase my taxes?

No, urban renewal is not a new tax and does not increase taxes. It simply changes how the existing taxes paid on a property are divided out amongst the different taxing jurisdictions.

What type of investments can be made in the community?

The urban renewal program can make investments in the following areas within the district:

• Public improvements
• Assistance to property and business owners
• Property acquisitions
• Public buildings

What are some benefits of urban renewal?

The benefits help provide an economic lift to the community, including:

• Job creation
• Dollars circulating through local economy
• Improved public infrastructure
• Improved public safety
• Connectivity
• Community services
• Affordable housing and home ownership
• Increase property values

What is the financial capacity for investments?

In today’s dollars, the city will have approximately $200M to reinvest back into the urban renewal area.

Do Gresham residents vote on the plan?

In November 2024, Gresham voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to allow the Gresham City Council to carry out any function to approve urban renewal plans and changes to the plan.

What are some benefits of having the plan administered by an urban renewal agency?

The urban renewal agency for the City of Gresham is the Gresham Redevelopment Commission (GRDC). It allows for more efficient and effective administration of urban renewal programs by the City of Gresham to respond quickly to opportunities that benefit the residents of Gresham.

Michael Gonzales, Redevelopment Project Coordinator
UrbanRenewal@GreshamOregon.gov