We are excited to have been hired to work with Bayshore Group to design and develop the site of the vacant GM Factory in St. Catharines. Better Neighbourhoods has utilized Traditional Neighbourhood Design principles to transform this parking lot into a walkable and vibrant addition to the Haig neighbourhood.
The design for Phase 1 features a rear lane, decentralizing the garage from the house design. This dramaticlaly increases the area’s walkability, and fits the new development seamlessly to the surroundings.
The site includes 37 units, comprised of detached, semi-detached and townhouse dwellings, as well as a 6-unit apartment building in the southwest corner of the site. These units range from 1,100 sqft – 1,800 sqft and are projected to be sold for $300,000 – $500,000.
To learn more about the McKinnon Park – Phase 1 project, visit Our Work.
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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.
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