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The Rockwood Rising project passed another milestone Wednesday, gaining unanimous approval from the Gresham Design Commission. The team leading the $30 million development, planned at 18535 S.E. Stark St., will now be able to apply for its first series of permits.

鈥淚t went as we expected 鈥� no real surprises,鈥� Matt Brown, a principal at YBA Architects, said of the hearing.

Design commissioners did express concerns over minor details, Brown said. Those included the look of sidewalk paving and the inset of the residential entrance to the apartment building.

鈥淭he concerns were nothing that was fundamental with the scheme,鈥� he said.

The project’s size and complexity required two Design Commission hearings. The first part of the project went before the commission on April 19.

鈥淭hey would be looking to break ground in August with Building B at the corner of Burnside (Street) and 185th (Avenue),鈥漵aid Josh Williams, senior development planner at the Gresham Department of Urban Design and Planning.

That first building will include 108 apartment units above ground-floor retail space. Two other buildings and an open courtyard also are in the works.

The development team of YBA Architects, RKm Development and the Gresham Redevelopment Commission hope Rockwood Rising will inject new life into the area. Rockwood has been long known as one of the Portland-metro area’s most ethnically diverse and economically challenged areas. Designers wanted to allow the community to influence the development’s design.

鈥淲e have been working hard to create a lattice, so that the community can weave its own identity into the place rather than being too heavy-handed with the design,鈥� Brown said.

An arts panel will be created to review proposals for art throughout the complex, he added.

鈥淚n the plan, there are lots of murals and chances for retail tenants to have a control over the look of their buildings,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his way there is some process to vet art projects in the complex.鈥�

Neighborhood involvement has been a key part of the design process. During the past year, planners have held sessions with stakeholders to assess what was most needed in the community.

鈥淲e had to find out what were the key priorities,鈥� Gresham senior project coordinator Emily Bower said. 鈥淲e found that they needed access to healthy food.鈥�

Multiple grocers, including Fred Meyer, have come and gone from the site. Now, the closest grocery store to Rockwood is more than a mile away. The project team plans to attract a variety of food vendors through a large food hall in the courtyard.

鈥淥ne of our missions is economic empowerment through neighborhood stabilization,鈥� Bower said.

Another big issue in the area is education and job opportunities.

鈥淲e want the project to provide pathways to living-wage jobs,鈥� Bower said. 鈥淲e want people to have the chance to be in that community and stay there for the long term.鈥�

While the process has spanned more than a year, changes to the project have largely been cosmetic, such as the color of the building.

鈥淚t’s going to be a real jewel for the community out there,鈥� Brown said.