Blog

For many homeowners, building a laneway suite is their very first venture into a full-scale construction project. Constructing a building may be straight-forward to developers, landlords or seasoned renovators, but for the average person, beginning this undertaking can be a daunting task. Where should you start? How much should it cost? How long should it take? Who should you work with? 

In any construction project, the finished product is only as good as the team behind it. We all seem to know someone who has a nightmare experience of delayed schedules, cost overruns and service providers that over-promise and under-deliver. Particularly with Laneway Housing, the ultimate key to a successful project lies in diligent planning with capable experienced professionals.

We at Lanescape know how difficult it can be to find builders, architects, engineers, real estate agents, and other key team members. Here are three keys to finding consultants that will go along way toward your project’s smooth completion:[Read More…]

The Lanescape team is very excited to present the launch of our new Laneway Lecture Series! In this 3-part series we cover everything you need to know about laneways of the Past, Present and Future. Each lecture will feature a panel discussion from prominent leaders involved in the implementation of laneway suites in Toronto.

The lectures are open to anyone interested in discovering more about the history of laneway suites, their current implications and what the future looks like for Toronto’s new housing typology.

There are a limited number of tickets available so don’t hesitate to secure your spot!
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We’re excited to announce there are some big changes coming to the laneway suites by-law in the near future![Read More…]

Nearly 6 months after its enactment, the Changing Lanes policy has continued to gain traction in our city. There are currently about 50 laneway suite applications under review, putting Toronto on a similar pace to Vancouver where 100 were approved in the first year. While fielding inquiries for dozens of properties, our team has found that many homeowners and their builders are still learning about the city’s emergency access criteria. This requirement is not a part of the zoning by-law – its assessed as part of the permit review. This stipulation has the potential to disqualify a lot that would otherwise conform to the policy, so we have taken it upon ourselves to seek clarity on the issue.

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Needless to say, 2018 was a whirlwind of a year for us here at Lanescape. We began the year deeply enthralled in our efforts to show the City of Toronto how laneway development could be a viable means of supporting density and a new breed of accessible urban housing. While we were still uncertain of the outcome, knowing that we were very close to changing lanes was all the motivation we needed to dig our heels in and ramp up the charge. After a long two years of community consultations and staff reports, the TEYCC was slated to make their decision in May. We were on the edge of our seats. Much to our dismay, the council voted to defer their decision, requesting further information before making a commitment. A month later, the motion was finally approved in principle and forwarded to Council for formal approval and enactment. By Summer’s end, the city had it’s brand new Changing Lanes Policy (By-law 810-2018)  in place!

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