More Good Press!

Love Your Laneways has again been featured in the Midland Mirror! Check out the latest article by clicking here.  

Laneways Gets Good News

The Love Your Laneways Project received good news on Wednesday evening when Midland Council approved a new Laneways Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to support downtown merchants who want to make improvements to the back of their businesses this summer before the BIG DIG next year. Eligible projects could include rear facade upgrades, improved lighting, signage and/or landscaping. Check the June 19th Council Highlights for more information. 

Back Door Transformations

Here's an example of a typical business back entrance in downtown Midland, opening out into one of the laneways: 

Can you recognize this store? (Answer at the end of the post.)  Right now there is nothing that identifies the business or provides a welcoming entrance to customers. However, there is also a lot of untapped potential! Here's a closer look: 

Three different walls with the potential of being painted, a door that can be easily spruced up, green space that offers lots of options for plantings, pathways, or permeable resurfacing... many of these things could be done without a huge expense for the business. We'll be featuring this and other transformations as the Love Your Laneways Project progresses! 

(This is the back of Georgian Bay Books.) 

Envisioning New Laneways

The Love Your Laneways Action Committee asked what revitalized laneways should look like - and here are the responses. Lighting and safety are obviously top concerns, but people are also interested in clear signage and accessibility for all, as well. If you have a vision for our downtown laneways that isn't mentioned, please tell us in the comments! 

Action Committee Hard at Work

The Love Your Laneways Action Committee met again this week to discuss the progress of the Laneways Project so far, and to plan ahead for the coming months. Committee members discussed the recent Laneways Stroll, reactions from both downtown businesses and the general public to what they envision for the improved laneways, as well as first steps on the project's Conceptual Plan. The Love Your Laneways Vision Statement was also introduced.  

The Committee, hard at work!