Concerns continue to swirl around the largest affordable housing hub in East Multnomah County following a hail of gunfire in the hallways — the latest in what has been years of shocking violence after a much-heralded ribbon cutting.
Sunday evening, April 28, residents called 911 after nearly 40 shots were fired in Rockwood Village, 783 S.E. 185th Ave. Upon arrival, Gresham Police learned suspects had targeted one of the residences.
While no one was injured in the shooting, bullets had ripped through the walls of several units, passing just over the beds of many sleeping children.
“This is an absolute disgusting display of gun violence in our city and will not be tolerated,” wrote the Gresham Police Union on social media following the shooting.
Rockwood Village has become a “problem spot” for law enforcement, a far cry from what was anticipated in the summer of 2022 during a grand opening filled with fanfare and beaming smiles from local leaders.
On paper the community was meant to fill a vital housing need in East County, bringing 224 affordable units. The 7.4-acre development has five residential buildings, a community center, a privately funded public park and an urban farm. There are a mix of one to four-bedroom units to accommodate families of different sizes, with wraparound services to support residents. Those include financial literacy classes and workshops on health and wellness.
It is co-owned and co-developed by Community Development Partners and Hacienda CDC.
But the honeymoon period didn’t last long.
Only half a year after that ribbon cutting, a major knife fight at the complex led Gresham Police to start taking a more active role in watching over the property, including a series of listening sessions with residents.
The fight, which included multiple people in the central courtyard of the complex, resulted in several injuries. It came on the heels of a murder-suicide of a young mother and her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter inside one of the apartments. There have also been a long litany of reports of assaults and harassments.
Rockwood Village is filled with youths. There are more than 400 that live in the complex, the city said, and many of the incidents have involved teenage victims and suspects.
“There are a lot of youths in the complex and they need programs and services so they can engage in positive experiences and be safe,” said then-Gresham City Manager Nina Vetter following the knife fight.
Tenants have also left Google reviews on the complex that have reported many allegations — drug paraphernalia left in stairwells, thefts and assaults.
“This place was sold as a dream when we moved in,” wrote one reviewer. “They sell safety but do not actually care about their residents.”
Now the city is once again attempting to work with the property managers to implement enhanced safety measures.
“We are exploring multiple avenues to ensure a cohesive community response,” the city said in a statement.
That includes collaboration with Gresham Police, local community-based organizations, and conversations directly with the residents themselves.
“Our goal is to address and mitigate the specific challenges faced in areas where crime has been more prevalent,” the city said.
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