My Street
Hillside Street
Public Front Yard
Lots with steep slopes in the Hillside streets face access and landscaping challenges. Several creative strategies for locating the house and providing access are found in these neighborhoods. Uphill home sites face very different challenges than downhill home sites, particularly related to parking. The sloping terrain creates many interesting opportunities for attractive front yards and framing the appearance of the house.
Lot Zones
Many Hillside houses are located on lots sloping up from the street. Small lots are challenging because there is less space to make grade transitions. Houses are often placed 10- to 20-feet higher than street level making driveway access to the side and rear of the house extremely difficult. Front-facing garages at the basement level are often used. Driveway widths should be limited and located to one side of the house as illustrated here. Several landscaping techniques can be used to create visually attractive and functional yards.
Downhill lots present unique challenges. As with uphill lots, if the grades are mild, potential solutions for house placement and parking are more numerous. Parking is ideally located beside or behind the house and reached by a narrow driveway. The front door of the house should be visible from the street and easy to access. If the lot is steep, alternative parking solutions, such as parking courts, may be examined. House designs with upper entry floors should be considered.
Parking
Parking is a challenge on hilly lots. Steep slopes limit options to single-car garages, carports or parking pads adjacent to the street.
Sometimes it is unavoidable to park cars between the house and the street in Hillside neighborhoods. Wherever possible, cars should be parked along the side or rear of the house, or in a motor court in front. Driveways should be narrow (8 feet) and never too steep to make them impractical on park on. Garages may need to be located in the basement or lower level of the house.
