Changing Lanes

Toronto has a vast network of more than 2,400 public laneways running throughout its fast-growing downtown and midtown neighbourhoods. Developing a better understanding of public laneways and their potential for integration into neighbourhood life helps us to create a complete and diverse public realm network in our city. The Turning Laneways into Public Places toolkit is intended as a guide to enable anyone to make improvements to a laneway or start a laneway revitalisation project. The toolkit lays out a process for identifying Toronto’s common laneway types based on physical characteristics and identifies potential strategies that can be used to improve each of them. A set of case studies are also used to demonstrate what is possible and inspire local action.

Guided by curiosity, the project began by asking: 

How does zoning, laneway width, building height and edges of laneways shape the feel, form and function of laneways? What types of laneway interventions are suitable for each typology?

Who was involved?

Changing Lanes was a collaborative project between TDL and The Laneway Project. 

What was TDL’s role?

TDL worked with the Laneway Project to identify, classify and analyse global case studies for best practices and different types or laneway interventions. Additionally, TDL conducted a geospatial analysis of City of Toronto’s 2,400 public laneways to identify seven unique types of laneways using four conditions: zoning, laneway width, building height and edges.

What was learned?

Seven laneway types were identified through geospatial analysis: residential laneways, residential garage-lined laneways, residential and mixed-use laneways, mixed-use low-rise laneways, mixed-use mid-to-high rise laneways, open space laneways and employment laneways. The characteristics of each laneway type are described and laneway improvements and interventions are listed.  For each improvement and intervention identified the level of complexity, cost and stakeholders are listed. The interventions are organized to provide readers with ideas, tips and resources to help meet their laneway project goals.

Project Partners