Why is this ditch in front of my yard? (Monroe: house, neighborhoods) - Louisiana (LA) - City-Data Forum

Louisiana'sLegend2 · 07-28-2009, 09:31 AM

I was one tired driver this rainy morning after a long night. It kinda reminded me of when I was paperboy driving sleep while throwing papers. I managed to keep that job for a year, only problem was I would wake up in a ditch sometimes(Seriously).

Well I thought about those ditch drive-in this morning since I was so sleepy driving. During the times I traveled alot, I noticed there werent many ditches in my travels. Im not talking canal ditches, Im talking in front of the house ditches, like house to house to house, there are ditches. About half of Monroe's homes have ditches in front of their yards for drainage. I know we have a big flood problem up here like southern Louisiana, but Im wondering, are there ditches in front of peoples homes like that eslewhere?

Rosinante · 07-28-2009, 01:07 PM

I would like to have a moat around my house. I'd fill it with gators and snakes to ward off the criminals in the area who have no trouble breaking into my neighbors' homes.

Innotech · 07-28-2009, 01:29 PM

Most people have a ditch but it is covered up and passed through a culvert. My parents house and my house on the southside do have ditches in front.

MetroBTR · 07-28-2009, 01:54 PM

I don't have a ditch I have storm drains, but I guess it's the same concept.

WestbankNOLA · 07-28-2009, 05:45 PM

I guess it may have been cheaper to dig a ditch than to form a curb. Seems like it would attract snakes and mosquitos though

urbanexplorer2009 · 07-28-2009, 08:06 PM

I grew up in the inner-city, so we had old crumbling streets and broken-up sidewalks, but it was better than nothing. Now I live in a rural part of Bossier Parish in a small subdivision, and I have a ditch in my front yard. It's so odd for part of the year to have crawfish mounds out in front of my house!

LSU Tiger Z71 · 07-28-2009, 10:51 PM

Monroe has more ditches than place I can think of right now.

Reivax · 07-29-2009, 07:52 AM

We have them here in Houston, very common.

drainage ditch in front of house (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kingwood_hughes/2084593851/sizes/o/ - broken link)

regarding mosquitoes, the association dues go to have a truck spray every so often. You can sit in my yard on just about any evening in summer and go back in the house with maybe 1 bite on your ankles.

litedave · 07-30-2009, 11:05 AM

I refused to buy a house on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain because of the ditches in the front yard. It looks like all of the sub divisions have a ditch in the front and side yards if you have a corner lot. To me it looks cheap and is an indication that the local government is too poor to place underground drainage in their neighborhoods. It is also an attraction to mesquitoes and snakes.

MetroBTR · 07-30-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litedave

I refused to buy a house on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain because of the ditches in the front yard. It looks like all of the sub divisions have a ditch in the front and side yards if you have a corner lot. To me it looks cheap and is an indication that the local government is too poor to place underground drainage in their neighborhoods. It is also an attraction to mesquitoes and snakes.

Is it lonely up there on your high horse?

Don't blame the local government, blame the developer. The lots were probably sold cheaper than those in neighborhoods that were already fitted with underground drainage (which exist. I know, because my sister lives in one). It sounds like that developer was leaving it up to the owner to install their own culverts with the money they saved on the lot.