No Parking Zone

WHAT’S LONG AND UGLY AND RIPS through the middle of the garden? The driveway. Sure, it gets the car to the garage and provides extra parking and tricycle space, but by itself, it’s a blank.

Landscape architect Jerry Williams, tired of staring at the 70-foot swath of concrete he never used, tried blotting it out with potted plants. But keeping them looking good was too much work and required too much water, especially in North Hollywood, where he lives. His next idea--one he’d contemplated for years--was to hack out with sledgehammer and saw about 20 feet, the back part, of the driveway and gain some sunny ground on his tiny lot. There he seeds vegetables: winter lettuce, peas and chard; summer tomatoes, squash and peppers. He fills in gaps with potted roses and annual color and plans eventually to add an herb patch, replacing yet more concrete. For anyone contemplating a similar move, Williams advises a soil test in case herbicides were applied before the driveway was laid. He also says to consult the Building and Safety and Planning departments to ensure the driveway’s accessibility to emergency vehicles and compliance with parking rules.

For his part, Williams can attest to the satisfactions of driveway wipeout: He and housemate Michael Geisser now have a view instead of a void through their kitchen window.