Laneway Homes the Future of our Cities?

The University of Toronto Campus and Facilities Planning has embarked on a significant redevelopment project by incorporating a creative solution that may go along way in how we think about future housing development by utilizing existing infrastructure. Its called Laneway homes.

Located in the Huron-Sussex neighborhood a pilot project is taking place that may revolutionize the way we think about creating housing from existing spaces within our cities. Toronto currently has over 2400 public laneways spread over 250 kms within the city. The University has been exploring different ways to make Toronto more livable and sustainable by incorporating living spaces within the existing laneway system.

One of the main purposes of laneway housing development is to use existing urban space within the city to create greater densification and help eliminate urban sprawl. Its purpose is to develop within preexisting urban areas rather then expanding outward. The homes within the laneway system have smaller footprints and can be built new or renovated within close proximity to one another. Creating new found neighborhoods within the city that can bring a different fabric of belonging to those who call it home.

The Municipal approval process plays a significant role in being able to develop and expand laneway housing projects across the city of Toronto. In the past, the location of these projects have not been viewed as viable spaces to accommodate housing but as time progressed and with more studies, municipal leaders have discovered there is a real need for this type of development and that they needed to work with local business leaders and educators to understand its benefits.

Laneway homes are sustainable and allow longer term housing solutions for on-campus UOT students and it’s faculty. It has the opportunity to create a neighborhood that can be self sufficient and provide a further municipal tax base for the city. Toronto has a large multi-culture population that works and plays within its existing infrastructure and this laneway project has the potential to expand upon that in a creative and responsible way.

CFP Woods is proud to be involved with the project with the supply of its thermally modified ash siding. It’s a project that allowed our company to participate knowing it was being utilized in a “green building” development and had some major influences from the University of Toronto. We look forward to seeing this project come to completion.

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