From Empty Lot to Living Landmark: The Urban Oasis Takes Shape

A few years ago, our Baltimore office began work with community organizer Arica Gonzalez, who had a vision to turn an empty lot in the Panway community of downtown (west) Baltimore into a thriving, self-sustaining community hub called The Urban Oasis. Since then, the project has been gaining steady momentum, and exciting developments are underway.

Aerial view of The Urban Oasis

Fundraising and Financing

The Urban Oasis big picture has always included smaller steps towards the final goal. A critical part of community organization and creating change with multiple stakeholders involved is understanding that everything can’t happen at once or right away. With that in mind, Arica tackled lower hanging fruit first to help galvanize the neighborhood and local entities. 

While fundraising for the larger development of the primary Urban Oasis structures and spaces are still ongoing, she has also focused on an alley library and coffee shop project, as well as hosting events in the empty lot where the Oasis will eventually be. These tangible outcomes can make a big impact on sustaining energy, excitement and investment into the larger project.

An early rendering of the Alley Library design concept, which will open on May 31, 2025.

Georgia Delegation Visit

Last month the Urban Oasis lot hosted a delegation from Macon, Georgia who came to study the project as they look for ways to enhance their city’s underused spaces and foster community building. Their visit was a result of Arica’s participation at the Place Making week in Baltimore, where she spoke on panels attended by city representatives from Macon. After taking a small cohort of attendees through a private tour of the lot, they returned with a larger group of city officials. 

At this meeting, Design Develop principle, Khanh Uong, was able to help present the design concept we’ve been working on with Arica and answer questions about how architecture can influence the impact of a structure or place. It’s exciting to see this design not only impact the Panway community, but also other underserved communities around the country brimming with potential and energy. Arica sees this as a future mission for the project, showcasing it as a cultural model for other communities.

Alley Library Opening

The Alley Library is just one early phase of the overall Urban Oasis project, and takes advantage of the Alley Beautification partnership program with the City of Baltimore. This program re-imagines alleyways around the city by working with private stakeholders to turn key locations and underutilized areas into engaging, welcoming public spaces. 

The Alley Library will host its ribbon cutting on May 31st, and the community is excited to showcase what they’ve been able to accomplish. Arica notes that the residents have been incredibly supportive, donating books, keeping a protective eye on the space and demonstrating a true sense of ownership that is at the core of the Urban Oasis project. 

At the ribbon cutting, guests will be able to immerse themselves in 3D renderings of the project design that our team put together at the exact spots on the lot where the spaces will be. And within the next few months, residents will begin to see movement happening including perimeter fencing, a new shed and additional permitting.Guests will also have the opportunity to do a leaf etching activity, with kids getting the first chance to etch leaves that will be added to the library’s gates, a beautiful illustration of how many hands make not just light work, but big outcomes. 

Guests at the ribbon cutting will be able to virtually experience the future space right on their own smart device!

As always, we’re so excited and honored to be able to provide design services for projects that have such a positive impact in their communities. Whether it’s a school in Chajul, Guatemala or a community library in Baltimore, Maryland, we know that good design can and should DO good.

Recognition from AIA Maryland

We’ve been honored to be part of a project as meaningful and community-driven as The Urban Oasis, and we’re thrilled that its impact is being recognized more broadly. We’re proud to share that the project recently received the “Excellence in Design” award in the Commissioned Unbuilt Architecture category from AIA Maryland and an Honorable Mention Award from AIA Baltimore. 

It was especially meaningful to accept this award alongside Arica, whose vision and leadership continue to guide the project. Recognition like this reinforces the power of design to support real, lasting change—both in Baltimore and in communities across the country exploring similar models.