Dan Romanko MCIP, RPP, CNU-A

Dan Romanko is a consulting Professional Planner practicing urban design, and neighbourhood development in Ontario with over 25 years’ experience. Growing up in Mississauga in the ’80s, his childhood years were spent in a categorically suburban environment. This experience sparked an interest in land-use patterns and ultimately the Urban Planning profession. Dan began his academic career at Sheridan College, graduating as a Civil Engineering Technician in 1992; he then went on to complete the Honours Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of Waterloo, graduating in 1997.  Years later, his interest in community scale sustainability found him continuing his education and he received a Master of Engineering Design in Sustainable Infrastructure from McMaster University in 2012. Dan has worked as a planner in a consulting role since 1998. From 2000-2009, Dan worked with Barr Associates in St. Catharines as urban designer. After a five-year stint at another multi-disciplinary firm downtown St. Catharines, Dan returned to Barr Associates in 2015 as partner and the company changed its name to Better Neighbourhoods Inc. In addition to his managing partner role, Dan is a full member in the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and been qualified as an expert witness at the Ontario Land Tribunal.  He has been an accredited member of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU-A) since 2009 and has attended annual Congresses since 2006.  Dan lives downtown St. Catharines with his family and is fortunate to have a seven minute walk to work.

Mckinnon Park – Phase 1

McKinnon Park is a large-scale redevelopment of the land once home to the St. Catharines General Motors factory. The site is in a fantastic location,

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27 Cherry Street

27 Cherry Street contained a small house which was historically significant to the Yates Street Heritage District. The home was constructed in 1850, and was

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Front view of the Wanda Road project.

24 Wanda Road

24 Wanda Road is a small infill project in the City of Thorold. The developer owned adjacent lots, 22 and 26 Wanda, and hired Better Neighborhoods Inc. to determine the highest and best use for the property.

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St. James Lofts

Growth Social House Inc. approached Better Neighbourhoods to work with them on their historic redevelopment of St. James Anglican Church in St. Catharines. This facility

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Welland South School Redevelopment

Welland South School closed in 1985, and the property sat dormant for 29 years until the building was demolished in 2014. During this time, residents of the surrounding neighbourhoods urged city officials to transform the property into new residential housing opportunities.

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10 Head Street

10 Head Street was a rewarding project for us, to see the planning, research and hard work come together. Check out all the pictures we have!

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Better Cities Film Festival 2023!

The St Catharines Edition of the Better Cities Film Festival returns from Oct. 27th – 29th, 2023, curated Better Neighbourhoods Inc. and co-sponsored by Main Street Engineering. This film festival seeks to bring important discussions out of City Halls, academic lecture rooms and conference centres to bring planning, urban design and city-building conversations to the community. Join us for neighbourhood walking tours, film screenings, panel discussions and more! This pay-what-you-can event is designed to inspire and empower communities to collaborate in the project of city-building. Enjoy a series of films to complement locally-relevant city-building topics such as active transportation, housing, grassroots placemaking, and the economics of urban growth.

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Speech bubble graphic with text, "our comments".

Our Comments on the Draft Niagara Official Plan

The consolidated Draft Niagara Official Plan defines how Niagara will use its available land to shape the physical, economic, and social development of the region over the next 30 years.

The Niagara Region is growing and diversifying, which necessitates carefully constructed and appropriate policy changes that encourage the development of neighbourhoods that are diverse, walkable, safe, sustainable, and provide a sense of place.

Amongst the many policies of the Official Plan that may be necessary to fulfil this objective, Better Neighbourhoods has focused on 9 aspects of development that we believe should be incorporated.

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