On Mon, 29 Jan 1996, RAY PANKOPF wrote:
> ** Proprietary **
>
> i was much surprised by joel's posting regarding the backyard/front
> porch "issue."
>
> i thought a lot about it over the weekend....
>
> i guess surprised is the best adjective to use for my reaction to a
> member of the planning commission feeling that way... especially since a
> lot of current architectural theory relates the loss of the front porch in the
> building boom following wwii to the decline of community, and all of the
> subsequent problems which followed.
>
> essentially, as we retreated from the front porch into the backyard, (the
> theory goes) we lost touch with neighbors, the community, and "caring."
> security is decreased and crime increases because folks aren't
> watching out for each other, and you can extrapolate from there.
>
> on a personal note... the front porch sorta become an icon for what i feel
> is "better" (on a purely subjective basis) about the inland northwest.
>
> we spent four years in spokane, living in a small apartment on the fringe
> of the manito park/cannon hill park/comstock park area of spokane's
> south hill. my wife and i used to really enjoy strolling around the
> neighborhoods, and we came to know several folks from "front porch"
> type encounters.
>
> my job then took me to the laguna hills area of southern californina,
> where we lived for three years in the type of complex ron force just
> described. the complex had a pool, two jacuzis, tennis courts, a weight
> room, and a party/meeting room. the community association dues (which
> include landscape maintenance) were $131.00/month. we knew a few
> people, but we never "bumped into" anybody during our walks, because
> all the units faced to the rear "privacy yards."
>
> during this time, we saw the julia roberts movie, "sleeping with the
> enemy." there is a scene where julia has returned to iowa, shot during a
> late summer afternoon, during which she sits on the front porch of the
> iowa home she has rented, and finally relaxes after all this terrible stuff
> has happened to her. the sun comes through the trees, children are
> playing, people are walking the sidewalks....
>
> my wife and i looked at each other, and we both said at the same
> time..."we gotta get back to spokane."
>
> we now have a small, mobile home looking, t-1-11, ranchburger house
> out by good samaritan. you can guess that it does not have a front
> porch... even though the front of the house has a full southern exposure.
> the back (on the north side) has a small, useless little deck that is
> constantly shaded and cold 11 months of the year.
>
> the big project this summer will be (time & checkbook willing) a front
> porch.
>
> ....ray
>