Do people in Tucson still have gravel/park cars in front yard? (Miami: new house, neighborhoods)

[Chorizo]

I dunno what the fuss is all about.

I lived in a house that had dirt for a front lawn. Why not park on it? No different than parking on the gravel driveway (except that you get less rocks stuck in your tread)

My 1985 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 with T-Tops, a modified 350 and leaky exhaust made the dirt yard look better!

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Really?! Not even YOU?!

I guess I ain't no PURIST after all!

Originally Posted by Chorizo

I dunno what the fuss is all about.

I lived in a house that had dirt for a front lawn. Why not park on it? No different than parking on the gravel driveway (except that you get less rocks stuck in your tread)

My 1985 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 with T-Tops, a modified 350 and leaky exhaust made the dirt yard look better!

Vrrooom, VRROOOM!

[sickofIL]

I think the gravel/cacti beats grass any day. You don't have to cut gravel---unless you have some different kind in Tucson.

I didn't notice any junk cars parked in front of any houses. That I wouldn't like much but I don't see a problem parking you driver there. Some of the houses I remember didn't really have a distinction where the driveway ended and the "front of the house" started so it would be difficult to tell when they parked in front instead of in the driveway.

[miamiman]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

Yup. We noticed a lot of that "look" - mostly in the older or less desirable parts of town. The newer/nicer areas generally had desert landscaping that was pretty attractive. No where in Tucson did we really notice homes with grass lawns they way you have them in Phoenix.

Ken

I definitely agree with you that the middle classs and upper class communities are more likely to be well-landscaped.

Winterhaven, near Fort Lowell and Tucson, is by FAR the greenest neighborhood in Tucson. You actually get FINED by the neighborhood association if you don't maintain a green lawn.

That is one neighborhood where you won't see people parking in their front yards.

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by miamiman

I definitely agree with you that the middle classs and upper class communities are more likely to be well-landscaped.

Winterhaven, near Fort Lowell and Tucson, is by FAR the greenest neighborhood in Tucson. You actually get FINED if you don't maintain a green lawn.

That is one neighborhood where you won't see people parking in their front yards.

I'm willing to bet that (unbeknownst to them) Winterhaven was Tucson's very first HOA!

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Chorizo

I dunno what the fuss is all about.

I lived in a house that had dirt for a front lawn. Why not park on it? No different than parking on the gravel driveway (except that you get less rocks stuck in your tread)

My 1985 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 with T-Tops, a modified 350 and leaky exhaust made the dirt yard look better!

That's funny, Chorizo!

Do you still have that '85 Camaro?

[xeric]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Phoenix has water... We can't do it even if we want to... which some of us do!

Seriously? I thought it was a love of the desert that prevented Tucsonians from planting grass everywhere? But hey, if you want a place where the yards look like everywhere else in the country come on up here!

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by xeric

Seriously? I thought it was a love of the desert that prevented Tucsonians from planting grass everywhere? But hey, if you want a place where the yards look like everywhere else in the country come on up here!

I'm only speaking for myself! I'm a transplant from overseas, so my opinions normally go against the grain.

[Chorizo]

Originally Posted by Bummer

That's funny, Chorizo!

Do you still have that '85 Camaro?

Nah - I sold it 4 or 5 years ago.

I was putting $20 in the tank every other day and I drove around too much. I had to get something more economical. Enter 03 Champagne Metallic Grand AM. This looked no where near as good in that dirt lawn.

That has since been sold as well.

[Sssunfish]

Originally Posted by Bummer

I'm with you 100% on the front yard car parking issue, Mystical. I believe there may be City Ordnances and/or Zoning Laws against such activities but not a top priority for TPD and only enforced if someone complains.

However, I kinda like the environmentally proper landscaping of gravel and a few cactus. Not only is it simple and easy to maintain but also much more Mother Nature Friendly than a "water wasting" front lawn which serves little or no purpose whatsoever. Grass is fine on a Golf Course or other applications where it serves a purpose but not on a front lawn where it is nothing but a blatant waste of precious water.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH

I agree 100%. Nothing angers me quite as much as someone planting grass and then pouring our potable water onto it. If they want green grass and something other than Palo Verde or Mesquite they need to head to Montana or Wyoming. This is the beautiful Sonoran Desert although if the pit mining continues it won't be beautiful much longer.