What are we saving? An accounting of our current streetscape: homes, porches, trees, rooflines

 All,

In trying to understand the current setbacks and story count of structures on our street, I took a stroll and made a survey sheet.  This was made easier by the fact that St. Charles and Greenwood are very much segmented into 50’ lots.   Below are the results for St. Charles and Greenwood.  Data below is from Ponce Place to the commercial buildings at N. Highland and I only counted lots that have their entrances facing St. Charles or Greenwood; 118 lots for St. Charles and 112 lots for Greenwood.  

 

St. Charles Avenue

 

Houses                           78%

Apt. Buildings               22%

 

Houses/Apt’s with Porches or Balconies facing St. Charles              70%

Houses/Apt’s with Original Porches but now enclosed                     5%

 

25’-40’ Setback          72%

15’-25’ Setback           28%

 

1 Story  42%   (of these 68% utilize the attic or have dormers in the roof)

2 Story   45%   (of these 4% utilize the attic or have dormers in the roof)

3 Story  13%

 

Peaked Roof   88%

Flat Roof          12%

 

Greenwood Avenue

 

Houses                           57%

Apt. Buildings               42%

Commercial                    1%

 

Houses/Apt’s with Porches or Balconies facing Greenwood         44%

Houses/Apt’s with Original Porches but now enclosed                     9%

 

25’-40’ Setback          35%

15’-25’ Setback           63%

0’-5’ Setback                  2%

 

1 Story   40%   (of these 49% utilize the attic or have dormers in the roof)

2 Story   57%   (of these 6% utilize the attic or have dormers in the roof)

3 Story   3%

 

Peaked Roof   82%

Flat Roof          18%

 

Some takeaways for me:

---Our generous setbacks add to our treescape, plantscape, wildlife and entrance of light to the sidewalk and porch level

 

---We live in a neighborhood of porches and balconies.   The new design guidelines must encourage or require generous porches and balconies.  It is one aspect of our neighborhood I love.  I grew up in a neighborhood with less than 10% porches and there is no upside unless you are a recluse.

 

---We have very few 3 story structures currently.  New guidelines encouraging more height will significantly change the feel of our street and reduce the light reaching outdoor livable space whether it’s a yard or a sidewalk.

 

---Most of our structures are ‘houses’.   Future building should continue to be houses or house-like forms (in my opinion).  This is further supported by the high percentage of peaked roofs, even on the apartment buildings.

 

Please forward to others on the street if it may be helpful.

 

Talk soon,

Jerry