Almost every municipality has laneways. This feature harkens back to a period when we were more pedestrian-oriented, without as many cars to manage. When laneway adoption began, the mindset was to plan for people first, by creating high quality streetscapes for pedestrians and rear laneways for service vehicles. This spatial organization represented the design values of the time and was seen as a natural solution since most people used active transportation to satisfy mobility needs.

While the conventional front loaded suburban model has now become the dominant standard of urban design and planning, it is worth reflecting on the value of thoughtfully designed laneways. They offer multiple functional, aesthetic and economic benefits for developers and residents to consider. This article is the first in a series that will cover the significance of laneways, key design features and value (from a cost and livability perspective).

This article begins the series with a brief history and overview of the main differences between our current conventional suburban model and the benefits offered by effective laneway design. In our next article, we will break down the key design differences between neighbourhoods featuring laneways and today’s dominant suburban layouts (including diagrams to make the comparison clear). Finally, we will share some insights into the future implementation of laneways in modern development projects, showcasing how to explore lanes as an aesthetically pleasing and efficient design feature.

Initially the purpose of laneways were as service alleys for deliveries and waste removal, but laneways gradually became integral parts of urban centres as Ontario’s population grew. You could find stables, accessory buildings, dairies, blacksmiths – many were mixed-use. The frontages of buildings were for pedestrians, as cars were not dominant and front doors were oriented to people walking off the street. People moved through the city using active transportation methods such as cycling or walking or by subways and streetcars. Pedestrian-oriented design was the priority since density of mixed use neighbourhoods didn’t require a vehicle for personal use.

During the 19th century, especially in industrialized cities like Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa, laneways played crucial roles in facilitating the movement of goods. They provided access to the rear of buildings for deliveries and served as vital conduits for the transportation of goods between factories, warehouses, and markets. In densely populated neighbourhoods, laneways also served as secondary entrances to residential dwellings. In Toronto, in particular, laneways gained prominence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the city experienced rapid expansion and densification. Many laneways in older neighbourhoods, such as the Annex and Cabbagetown, retained their historic character and became densely populated corridors lined with residential dwellings, small businesses, and service establishments.

However, like many urban features around the world, laneways in Ontario faced challenges in the 20th century as urban planning priorities shifted towards accommodating cars. Neglected or repurposed as parking lots, many laneways lost their historic charm and functionality. As a result, in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in revitalizing laneways as valuable urban spaces.

Below, we have a couple of local examples of laneways in Downtown St. Catharines.

Garden Park is a lane in Downtown St. Catharines that provides access to parking and services. Trust Beer Bar, a newer business in the City, faces into the laneway, adding visual interest and another attractive use.

Running parallel to St. Paul Street is another service lane, providing rear access to businesses fronting the street.

Another view of Garden Park. The lane is one-way when entering off of St. Paul Street, becoming two way at the parking lot for cars entering and exiting.

As New Urbanists, the Better Neighbourhoods team views laneway design as an opportunity to enhance the public realm, achieve more walkable neighbourhoods and create more beautiful, functional neighbourhoods with room to grow. They also offer key economic benefits to both developers and residents.

It has become normal to expect that a home will prominently feature a garage and driveway facing the street. It is so normalized, in fact, that many people wouldn’t even consider that there are other, potentially better alternatives for the spatial layout of their home and property that improve efficiency, value and accommodate future needs.

Laneways/rear lanes offer:

• Fewer sidewalk interruptions from driveways and curb cuts,
• More street trees and on-street parking for visitors and residents,
• More design flexibility without the L-shape house layout,
• Move municipal infrastructure (ex. sewers, utilities, transformers) off of the street and into the back,
• The alternating laneway garage pattern gives residents more privacy in their rear yards,
• Less asphalt on site,
• Narrower lots and therefore more units in a development,
• Options for incremental growth

In our next part of the series we will break down the design features that make the above possible.

It is also important to note that most of our existing fabric/infrastructure is front loaded – we know that we can’t exactly start from scratch. So how can we achieve good urban design as new urbanists that may not have the complete benefits of laneways but still provide the best retrofit? What are the opportunities to integrate good urbanism and accessory dwelling units? We will discuss new builds and adaptations in the next installments. Stay tuned!