James DiPaolo

James is an Urban Planner with a strong understanding of physical planning and planning policy, and is a key member of Urban Strategies’ downtown, main street, and neighbourhood planning practice. Most recently, James worked on the City of Orillia’s Downtown Tomorrow Plan Update, which sets out a long-range vision for growth and development in the downtown, supported by a range of strategic initiatives for the City and its partners to advance. James also worked as the Planner and Project Manager for the Central Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan for the City of Saint John, NB. Through urban design and public realm guidelines and place-making concepts for surplus public lands, the Neighbourhood Plan demonstrates how targeted municipal improvements can encourage private reinvestment in the core of a historic city. James also works with the New York Department of State to administer the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, a key economic development program. Working with a different community in the Finger Lakes Region each year, this involves working with State and municipal officials and a local planning committee to identify, evaluate, and select the best slate of projects for grant funding to support downtown revitalization. In Toronto, James has managed the master planning and approvals for a variety of complex development projects, including 30 Bay Street, Dufferin Mall, the Golden Mile Shopping Centre redevelopment, 1 Front Street West, and 18 Elm Street.