COLUMBIA, S.C. — As Orangeburg County prepares to break ground on a new courthouse, a group of students from Midlands Technical College is offering a fresh vision for how the surrounding area could be transformed.

Architecture students Stanley “Wise” Shannon, Aron Smith and Javion Latimer have developed a community green space concept called “The Oasis.” The project, while theoretical, is designed to combat food deserts and promote health and wellness in downtown Orangeburg.

“I have seen that space and it was an empty space of concrete over there. It used to be some type of store, so I was thinking that that explains why it’s a food dessert in that area, and it was a lack of space and lack of a need of accessible food in the community,” Smith said.

Shannon, who is from Orangeburg, said

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