Mixed-Use Laneways

Location:	Toronto, Canada
Status:	Study submitted
Date:	2025

The City of Toronto’s public laneway network may have the potential to accommodate a broad range and diversity of neighborhood-compatible non-residential uses, which cannot financially justify or do not require a commercial main street frontage, but contribute to the creation of complete communities.

From professional offices to maker spaces, artist studios, bicycle repair shops and green grocers, the potential to incentivize entrepreneurship may be significant. This is critical. In our efforts to accommodate population growth through intensification over the past two decades, we have lost many of the older, less expensive, and inherently flexible employment spaces. Such spaces were conducive to, and served to incubate, small business and entrepreneurship. In their absence, we must begin to look elsewhere.

The purpose of this study is to determine the potential for non-residential uses, and associated built form and public realm improvements, in public laneways within residential neighborhoods throughout the City of Toronto. In doing so, the intent is to establish a body of work that can be used to inform future city-building initiatives locally, regionally, and nationally.