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 Neighbourhoods Inc. to determine the highest and best use for the property. BNI concluded that 26 Wanda should be renovated, and an additional 2-storey home could be constructed by severing a section of both existing lots.
In collaboration with the developer, BNI led the approval process with the municipality and designed a unique home which complimented the existing architecture in the neighbourhood. With minor planning adjustments, the builder could have built a garage-centric home or expanded 22 Wanda into a Monster home (Photo examples below), both of which would have negatively impacted the walkability and property values of surrounding homes. The built home features a beautiful front porch and moves parking to the side of the lot, as opposed to the car being the focal point of the lot.
The new home also includes an accessory dwelling unit in the basement, rented as an affordable housing opportunity. This unit was raised, allowing for much larger windows and natural light than other traditional basement units. For the homeowner, this unit provides an additional source of income which can subsidize living expenses and add additional value to the property. Including the accessory unit helps improve affordable housing opportunities within the City of Thorold, which is a welcome change to the neighbourhood.
This project was recognized in 2016 as the Small Scale Project Design winner at the Niagara Community Design Awards.
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.
