Evan Roberts reports that a current proposal addresses concerns of shadowing, privacy and environmental impact “It may seem as though Toronto is running out of space, as the population grows and grows. But there’s a growing practice in other major cities that could solve this problem: Laneway housing.
Laneway housing is becoming more and more popular — especially on the West Coast. There you’ll find homes built into pre-existing lots, often backyards that open onto the back lane. Imagine, about 100,000 new residents move to the GTA each year. Clearly, this cements housing availability and affordability as the top priority for municipal planners. Toronto is in desperate need of intensification solutions. We have nearly 2,400 of them: Our laneways. These laneways, amount to 300 kilometres of under-utilized space — and thus 300 kilometres of possibilities. ….. ”
“On a site owned by the school in the Huron-Sussex neighbourhood, three homes are being built: a single-family dwelling and two laneway homes that have alleyway access. The homes are slated for professor and student use, and will adhere to the Passive House standard for energy efficiency.
To tackle the challenge of laneway construction done to a stringent environmental standard, U of T is working with architects BSN and Passive House expert, Rob Blakeney, of Local Impact Design. Blakeney recommended that the Huron St. builds use pre-fabricated walls, which reduce labour time and costs, as well as the disruption to neighbours (a major concern in the laneway debate).”
