1. General Questions
What is the Laneway coLabs Program? The Laneway coLabs Program empowers communities to transform underutilized laneways into vibrant, green, and welcoming spaces through a collaborative process. Selected communities will participate in interactive workshops and meetings with The Laneway Project, working together to envision and shape their laneway’s revitalization. The process will focus on community-driven design, incorporating elements that reflect local needs and aspirations. Revitalization efforts will be implemented in summer 2025.
What is a laneway? A laneway in Toronto is a narrow, publicly owned roadway that runs behind or between buildings. These underutilized spaces have the potential to be transformed into vibrant, community-friendly public spaces.
There are two main types of laneways in Toronto: Residential laneways serve as access points for homes, garages, and secondary suites, while residents and businesses use multi-use laneways (these are often behind a main street).
I live on a multi-use laneway - can my community still participate? Yes! Communities on both types of laneways can participate. If your laneway has businesses, please include them in the process. If they are interested, business owners can be Neighborhood Leads.
My laneway is private, can a group of residents apply? Suppose your laneway is privately owned (a few of these, but most of our laneways are public). In that case, the property owner must provide a written property access agreement, which must be included in the application. Unfortunately, the laneway is ineligible if the property owner is deceased or refuses to sign the agreement.
How do I know if my laneway is public? Use this map - it only indicates publicly owned laneways.
Who can apply for the program? Any group of residents who live adjacent to a public residential or multi-use laneway can apply. BIAs and community organizations may also apply but must partner with residents. Each application requires at least three Neighbourhood Leads.
Is this program open to renters, or do I need to own property? Renters are welcome and encouraged to participate in the program. However, they should collaborate with property owners, particularly for improvements that require permission, such as murals or structural installations.
Can I apply if I live in a condo or apartment adjacent to a laneway? Yes, residents of condos or apartments adjacent to a laneway are eligible to apply.
Can businesses apply if they are adjacent to a laneway? Yes, businesses adjacent to a laneway can apply, but they must collaborate with residents to ensure community engagement and long-term stewardship.
Do I need to live in a laneway house to participate? No, individuals do not need to live in a laneway house.
What does “adjacent to a laneway” mean? Adjacent means that some portion of a resident’s property must be beside or connected to the laneway in some way.
I do not live on a laneway, but I live near it and always use it. Can I be involved? Yes, and note that we require more than half of the Neighbourhood Leads to be on or adjacent to the laneway.
What types of design elements will be included in the final design? Each community will determine the final design, but possible interventions include:
Murals and public art
Greening and community gardens
Climate adaptation measures (e.g., rain gardens, permeable surfaces)
Seating and furniture
Lighting and safety improvements
Traffic calming measures
Do applicants need to have design experience? No design experience is needed—just a passion and desire to work together to create a unique public space.
2. Application Process
Can we submit multiple applications for different laneways in our neighbourhood? A single group should submit only one application per laneway.
Can I apply if my neighbours are not yet on board? Successful applications require demonstrated community support. If your neighbours are not yet on board, consider engaging them through meetings, flyers, or conversations to gather interest before submitting your application.
Can our group submit additional materials (maps, sketches, etc.) to support our application? This isn’t necessary, as the design process will be completed during May - June in collaboration with the community.
How do we apply? Interested communities must complete the application form and submit it by April 20, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
What are the key dates for the program?
March 17, 2025 – Application opens
April 20, 2025 – Application deadline
May - July 2025 – Co-design process
July - August 2025 – Implementation of design
September 2025 – Community celebration
What makes a strong application? A strong application demonstrates:
Broad community support, including letters of endorsement
Commitment to long-term stewardship
Suitability of the laneway for design interventions
Passion and excitement for the opportunity to revitalize your laneway with your neighbours.
3. Project Implementation
What happens if our community is selected but later struggles to participate? The Laneway Project is committed to working closely with selected communities. If participation becomes a challenge, we will provide additional support to help facilitate engagement. However, if a community cannot fulfill its commitments, we may need to reassess its participation in the program.
Who will make the final decision on design improvements? The community will make final decisions if they meet The Laneway Project’s budget specifications and timelines, and do not contravene by-laws or other city permissions.
How will decisions get made? Community decision-making will be done by consensus. How this process will work will be discussed during the onboarding process.
Can we choose specific artists or designers for the murals and installations? The Laneway Project has a roster of artists, designers, and urban planners specializing in community-driven projects. While communities can provide input and suggest artists, final selections will be made in collaboration with The Laneway Project to ensure feasibility and alignment with the program’s goals.
How long will the implementation process take? Implementation will occur between July and August 2025 and vary depending on the scope of the interventions. Most installations, including murals, planters, and seating, can be completed in phases over a few weeks.
Who is responsible for the implementation? The Laneway Project will provide facilitation, funding, and technical support. However, community members are expected to participate actively in planning, preparing, and executing the revitalization work.
Who is responsible for sourcing vendors and obtaining quotes? The Laneway Project handles all vendor sourcing and quote collection. However, if community members have a preferred vendor in mind, we’re happy to coordinate with them.
How much funding is provided? The Laneway Project will fully fund approved interventions, including design elements, materials, permitting, and a final celebration. Funds will not be directly distributed to communities.
How much money will be invested in each project? We are working on our budgets and will share the project amount once we have selected the communities. Each community will receive the same level of funding.
What if our laneway needs significant repairs? While the program may allow minor surface repairs, full pavement resurfacing is not included. Communities with severely damaged laneways are not eligible.
4. Community Involvement & Stewardship
What happens if vandalism or damage occurs after the project is complete?
As part of the co-design process, we will cover long-term maintenance and stewardship and create a maintenance plan and agreement with the community. We expect and encourage the community to take ownership of their laneways' ongoing maintenance. Once the project is completed, The Laneway Project can be consulted for support, but we can not offer additional repair funding.
Are there any maintenance guidelines or responsibilities after the project is finished? Yes, all participating communities must commit to ongoing stewardship. This includes tasks like litter clean-ups, watering plants, and monitoring murals. The Laneway Project will provide resources and best practices for long-term maintenance.
Can we add new design elements after the project is complete? Yes! While the project's initial scope will be finalized through co-design, communities are encouraged to continue improving and maintaining their laneways.
What is expected from community members?
Neighbourhood Leads must commit ~50 hours over several months to coordinate and engage residents.
General residents & other community stakeholders can participate based on interest and availability, contributing to workshops, design implementation, and stewardship efforts.
All participating communities must commit to maintaining the laneway post-project (e.g., clean-ups, garden care, monitoring murals, etc.).
What if our Neighbourhood Leads are away all summer? Neighbourhood Leads are expected to be available from May to September 2025—choose leads who can manage the time commitment.
Can I still apply if I don't have 3 Neighbourhood Leads? Applications with less than 3 NLs will be immediately disqualified. This program requires a high level of support and leadership from within the community to work.
Can The Laneway Project do this work without the support of the community?
No. While the final product—a beautified and green laneway—is one of the goals, having the community deeply involved in the project is even more valuable. We believe that the process is just as important as the final product. This will be a laneway for the community, by the community.
How will The Laneway Project support us? The Laneway Project will:
Provide expert facilitation, urban design guidance, and project coordination
Manage permitting and city approvals
Cover costs of design elements (we will provide budget scope at the beginning of the project)
Offer resources and best practices for long-term stewardship
Conduct follow-up surveys to assess project impact
5. Data Collection & Evaluation
How will the impact of the project be measured over time? The Laneway Project will assess impact through surveys, site observations, and community feedback collected at multiple stages—before, immediately after, and one year following project completion. This will help determine the program’s success in fostering engagement and improving laneway conditions.
Can we opt out of data collection but still participate in the project? No, one of the participation requirements is to participate in data collection.
Will there be follow-up opportunities for our community to share feedback? Yes! The Laneway Project values ongoing feedback. Communities will have opportunities to share their experiences, insights, and lessons learned through follow-up surveys, community meetings, and storytelling initiatives.
Why is data collection part of this program? The Laneway Project will gather data on community engagement and public space usage to understand the impact of laneway revitalization.
How will the collected data be used? The Laneway Project will use the collected data to evaluate the success of the revitalization efforts, identify best practices, and inform future projects. Data may also be shared with municipal partners to advocate for additional resources or policy changes that support laneway improvements. Data will also be shared with the program's funders and potential future funders. Additionally, insights from the data will be used on our social media, website, and other channels. Note that no personal data will be shared.
What data will be collected? Residents will be invited to participate in brief surveys before and after the project to assess how the revitalized laneway impacts social connections, safety, and overall well-being. A follow-up survey may also be conducted one year after the project to evaluate long-term effects.
The surveys will include questions on:
Social connections – Have you met new people in your neighbourhood through the laneway? Have your interactions with neighbours increased?
Perceived safety – Do you feel safer using the laneway during the day and at night?
Usage patterns – How often do you use the laneway, and for what activities (e.g., walking, gathering, recreation)?
Sense of belonging – Do you feel a stronger connection to your neighbourhood due to the project?
Community involvement – Have you participated in any activities or events in the laneway?
In addition to surveys, qualitative data may be gathered through community storytelling and visual documentation to capture personal experiences and the transformation of the space. Participation in storytelling and visual documentation will be optional, ensuring residents can choose their level of involvement.
Will the community have access to the data collected? Yes! The Laneway Project will share findings with participants, highlighting successes and lessons learned to inform future community-led projects.
6. Additional Support & Questions
What if we need help with our application? Have questions? Contact info@thelanewayproject.ca or Book a 15-minute meeting for one-on-one assistance.
What happens if our application is not selected?
Unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback and may reapply in future rounds.