BIG CHANGES IN ROCKWOOD....
In September 1986 the Max/Light Rail System was built that traveled through Rockwood and on to Gresham. Did the light rail bring crime to the area as some believe? In my opinion, it was a culmination of many factors, which we will discuss throughout the history....(SEE LATER BLOG ON "The Rockwood Identity Crisis.")
In 1987 the City of Gresham and the City of Portland incorporated areas of Rockwood in order to fund/regulate the new requirement of a municipal sewer system from septic tanks. Did the separation and incorporation of the Rockwood community into the cities of Gresham and Portland create the issues in Rockwood as some believe? More factors... as we will discuss further.....
THE MAX TO GRESHAM/NEW DEVELOPMENT....1980s
Apartments in Rockwood were built throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. WERE TOO MANY APARTMENTS BUILT?
As the Max came to Gresham, I believe Rockwood became an even more DESIRABLE place to live. Those who didn't want to drive cars to town now had great options. Apartments filled the area and stayed rented. Renters could walk to the Max station to make it either direction in and out of town. Fred Meyer was a "one-stop" shopping center that was within walking distance. The "Rockwood Triangle" offered everything within a convenient walking distance with garden center, bowling, shopping, max travel, burger king.... you name it. Over the years some of these conveniences waned, with the most devastating blow coming with the convenient one stop shopping center.
In 2002 Rockwood Fred Meyer left our community, leaving behind a large empty town center, discouraging words and no handy shopping area for those in the local apartments. As neighborhood conditions changed (i.e. loss of a grocery store which took away the walkability for those without cars) the apartments ended up being a liability. So the question becomes, whose fault is the failure of the areas businesses, apartment complexes and neighborhood?
Is it light rail's fault for going in, when at the time it wasn't a crime draw, but perhaps they didn't plan into the long term effects?
Is it the County's fault for, when it was still an unincorporated area, failing to develop wisely?
Is it the City of Gresham's fault for, when inheriting the neighborhood, not having the foresight to realize what the future would bring if proper standards and changes weren't implemented?
Is it Fred Meyer's fault for leaving Rockwood high and dry?
More to come. :)
Other Perspectives:
http://bojack.org/2012/06/lake_o_apartment_bunkers_would.html (see after first 9 comments to get to Rockwood info) /what do i disagree with? Because the City of Gresham planners were not in charge of the apartment developments in Rockwood at that point. This area was not incorporated until 1987....
http://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=3239
In September 1986 the Max/Light Rail System was built that traveled through Rockwood and on to Gresham. Did the light rail bring crime to the area as some believe? In my opinion, it was a culmination of many factors, which we will discuss throughout the history....(SEE LATER BLOG ON "The Rockwood Identity Crisis.")
In 1987 the City of Gresham and the City of Portland incorporated areas of Rockwood in order to fund/regulate the new requirement of a municipal sewer system from septic tanks. Did the separation and incorporation of the Rockwood community into the cities of Gresham and Portland create the issues in Rockwood as some believe? More factors... as we will discuss further.....
THE MAX TO GRESHAM/NEW DEVELOPMENT....1980s
Apartments in Rockwood were built throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. WERE TOO MANY APARTMENTS BUILT?
As the Max came to Gresham, I believe Rockwood became an even more DESIRABLE place to live. Those who didn't want to drive cars to town now had great options. Apartments filled the area and stayed rented. Renters could walk to the Max station to make it either direction in and out of town. Fred Meyer was a "one-stop" shopping center that was within walking distance. The "Rockwood Triangle" offered everything within a convenient walking distance with garden center, bowling, shopping, max travel, burger king.... you name it. Over the years some of these conveniences waned, with the most devastating blow coming with the convenient one stop shopping center.
In 2002 Rockwood Fred Meyer left our community, leaving behind a large empty town center, discouraging words and no handy shopping area for those in the local apartments. As neighborhood conditions changed (i.e. loss of a grocery store which took away the walkability for those without cars) the apartments ended up being a liability. So the question becomes, whose fault is the failure of the areas businesses, apartment complexes and neighborhood?
Is it light rail's fault for going in, when at the time it wasn't a crime draw, but perhaps they didn't plan into the long term effects?
Is it the County's fault for, when it was still an unincorporated area, failing to develop wisely?
Is it the City of Gresham's fault for, when inheriting the neighborhood, not having the foresight to realize what the future would bring if proper standards and changes weren't implemented?
Is it Fred Meyer's fault for leaving Rockwood high and dry?
More to come. :)
Other Perspectives:
http://bojack.org/2012/06/lake_o_apartment_bunkers_would.html (see after first 9 comments to get to Rockwood info) /what do i disagree with? Because the City of Gresham planners were not in charge of the apartment developments in Rockwood at that point. This area was not incorporated until 1987....
http://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=3239
posted by Dina DiNucci at
1:40 PM
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