Housing Solution Could Be Down Toronto's Alleys

Rear lanes may prove to be an untapped resource in Toronto's plans to house a growing population.

1 minute read

February 27, 2004, 12:00 PM PST

By Geoffrey Singer @GeoffreySinger


With substantial growth in population forecasted over the next several decades, Toronto needs to find suitable locations to house all of its expected new residents. One solution that offers considerable promise is to contruct housing along the city's numerous alleys, a development form for which there is already some precedent. Architects Terence Van Elslander and Jeff Stinson are working on a laneway housing study for the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and have determined that there are up to 6,000 potential laneway development sites within the city. They also estimate that up to $6 million could be added to the city's assessment base without incurring significant servicing costs. Pursuing such a growth strategy could go a long way towards achieving sustainability, writes Christopher Hume.

Thanks to Geoffrey Singer

Thursday, February 26, 2004 in The Toronto Star

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

5 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

3 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

4 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

6 hours ago - WESH