Design rooted in voices and memory

YCA is working as associate architect and community partner on the former Ghost Ship Warehouse site, ensuring that design and decision-making are rooted in local voices, cultural histories and visionary futures. In collaboration with The Unity Council, we engage affected families, neighborhood leaders, and Oakland’s creative community to guide a process that is both healing and forward-looking.

The project prioritizes inclusive participation, elevating the perspectives of artists, culture-bearers, and long-term residents who form the heart of the Fruitvale neighborhood. Future affordable housing on the site is envisioned not only as a response to urgent need, but as a place that safeguards livelihoods, honors lives lost, and strengthens the cultural fabric of the community.