Dominic Sonkowsky

Analyst

Dominic brings experience in data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and narrative building to support projects that make cities more equitable and sustainable.

 

Dominic re-joins HR&A after serving as a Summer Fellow in 2022, where he supported projects like the redevelopment of New York Penn Station, the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative in Manhattan Chinatown, funding and financing for resilient infrastructure in South Africa, and HR&A’s Infrastructure Funding Navigator. While at another consultancy, he contributed to market analyses for the New York City hotel and wholesale beverage distribution industries, and a highway cap real estate development proposal in Cincinnati.

Dominic is an expert on New York City outdoor dining policy. For the nonprofit Welcome to Chinatown, he managed three surveys targeting distinct Chinatown audiences to gather feedback on the Open Restaurants outdoor dining program. He synthesized findings into a white paper presented to Manhattan Community Board 3. At New York University, Dominic was the lead author of a study finding that the Open Restaurants program brought outdoor dining to low-income, minority neighborhoods where it was previously out of reach to many small businesses. His work on outdoor dining has been featured in Gothamist, Streetsblog NYC, Crain’s New York Business, AM New York, Fast Company, Thrillist, and EATER New York.

Dominic has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Swarthmore College and a Master of Urban Planning from New York University. For his capstone project at New York University, Dominic led a team of graduate students in creating a Greenway Connectivity Plan for the City of Jersey City. The plan recommends 16 new or upgraded pedestrian and cyclist paths that will transform Jersey City’s separate greenways into a citywide active transportation network.

Member, American Planning Association

Member, Young Professionals in Transportation