Here between my house and my neighbor's house to the east is a mostly paved walkway. My half of this alley leads to a gate in the backyard, but my neighbor's side just ends at a closed fence. She hardly ever ventures here presumably because she lacks entry to her backyard. Weeds frequently sprout up between the cracks of the pavement (sometimes even taking root somewhere along her foundation). My side is coated with a line of pigeon poop. A flight of Pigeons roost on our roof every night. This space could easily gain the nickname "community toilet", but I don't want it to gain this reputation! I want to make this a beautiful place too. Along the pavement on my side is the basement stone wall with 2 windows. The hose is hooked up to the front of the space and is wrapped around a coil that rests next to the porch at the very front of the Alley. This used to be where coal was shoveled through a small metal door (now sealed shut) into the "coal room" below.Obviously the worst offense about this space is the pigeon poop, and a health risk, quite frankly. The weeds are second, and the cracks in the cement are third. The hose coil is broken and difficult to work with as well. The basement windows are not pretty.
Positive things this space has going for it? Well, it is shaded all day long by the brick houses flankng its east and west sides. This could be the coolest part of the yard on a hot day. The source for water outdoors is a feature that I can celebrate. The downspout for the storm drains is a clay pipe that seems to be functioning well.
I don't yet have a vision for this space other than mitigation. But what of beautification? I will have to think on it.
