05 - Reshaping our cities with Laneway Houses and Garden Suites

The discussions around new bylaws for laneway houses, Garden suites (ADU), and multiplex are buzzing with possibilities. This positive change adds gentle density and housing within existing infrastructure. What this means is we have a new opportunities to transform the fabric of the city we live in, will everyone accept it?

What we bought.

My interest in this type of density goes back to 2004 when I purchased a laneway property with 12 parking spaces in Toronto. The land was a steal at 35K, and the idea of building a house on it seemed like an exciting project. There were some examples of laneway houses, mostly done by architects, but it wasn't permitted or tolerated as it is now.

What we wanted.

We hired a fantastic architect that designed a beautiful and clever house for us. This is when things took a turn. The NIMBY neighbors and local councilor rallied together in opposition. We were heart broken and ill prepared. This was going to be our home, and we just received the real introduction to our future neighbors.

So we drafted up new plans.

We sold the property with approved building permits for garages, amounting to almost 2000sqft of parking and storage space. We sold it for 100K to an electrical contractor. It was a great deal that worked out for everyone. Unintentionally, the neighborhood made their choice.

What the neighborhood wanted.

Now, circling back to these new bylaws, What they hold is the promise of a layered housing fabric, varied and exciting. Cities and neighborhoods are in a constant state of evolution, shaped by economic shifts, changing population, and evolving societal needs. I envision a future where our once uniform residential streets are infused with a mosaic of different housing types.

What is the alternative? If not this gentle density, then what?

When I lived in Ortigia, Sicily. I would walk around the small island and try as best as I could to get lost, turning down alleys, taking narrow paths and loving every new discovery along the way. There was nothing more satisfying then stumbling upon a workshop, performing arts group or cafes. I loved it.

I'm a strong advocate for this organic intensification of the city. I would take it even further and allow some commercial uses as of right – a pottery shop, or a co-working space in the back suite, breathing life and connections into our neighborhoods.

Let's explore the potential together and contribute to the next chapter in our housing history.

PS. It still breaks my heart when I think about my laneway property and how it ended. Maybe if I had been older, or less emotionally invested, I could have pushed through with the re-zoning. Or maybe, I was just 20 years too early.