Barbara Corcoran Encourages More Heat Islands in Queens
Kevin Walsh of Forgotten NY forwards onto OuterB his take on realtor Barbara Corcoran’s recommendation that Queens residents pave over their gardens before the zoning laws are changed to prohibit this behavior. I must say, I agree with the guy. The source is Corcoran’s own column in the Daily News:
Q. My wife and I have lived in Queens for the past 10 years and we plan on staying in the area for about another five. We are noticing lately that all of our neighbors are paving their yards and then use the space to park their cars on.
My wife has spent many hours cultivating her plants and would like to keep the garden, but I think having a driveway will help us increase the price of the house when it comes time to sell. What do you think?
A. Hey, a flower garden might look pretty and keep your wife happy, but the space in front of your house is worth a hell of a lot more as a driveway.
You should know that the city council of Queens has just proposed a zoning change that would prohibit residents from paving their yards in some areas.
So get your wife on your side and get a cement truck over there fast.
I find Corcoran’s advice tragic at worst and lame at best. The paving over of yards to me seems like a ridiculous practice. Where I come from, it’s possible to have a yard and a driveway. And the pictures on Kevin’s page show that everything in the front the houses has been paved over - but there definitely would have been room for a little grass or some flowers .
In this age of the awareness of climate change, why would Barbara Corcoran encourage the creation of more and more heat islands? Not to mention it’s plain fugly to have a front yard paved over. Barbara Corcoran, why must you be so irresponsible in your advice? You are doing a disservice to Queens and the City of New York.
To the man who asked the original question - of course keep the plants and flowers - it’s really possible to have a driveway and a garden. And, you don’t have to do something just because your neighbors are doing it. Also, do you really want to ruin what your wife has spent so much of her valuable time on? That garden is obviously important to her, so why destroy it? And in the end, it’s possible that you might be razing a lot more than the garden, when it comes right down to it.
If you want to tell Barbara Corcoran what you think of her boneheaded suggestion, email her at askbarbara@nydailynews.com.
Related:
Cuckoo Corcoran [Forgotten NY]
Ask Barbara [NY Daily News]
Photo Credit: Kevin Walsh of Forgotten NY
November 12th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
How sad! My husband and I spent great expense to dig up the cement that was our backyard and create a beautiful garden. We don’t have a front yard, but will never understand this practice…
November 12th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
While I don’t know of rules for paving over grassy area on one own’s property, there are rules about curb cuts. Property owners have to get permits from the Department of Transportation to construct a curb cut on their property and those curb cuts need to be a certain distance from intersections and each other for safety reasons. Anyone who suspects an illegal curb cut should report them to the DOT or Department of Buildings.
November 12th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Oh I gave Babwa a piece of my mind. I could not believe a columnist can seriously give such igornt, short sighted and ignorant advice.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Well I’d much prefer some greenery in front of a house, but on a strictly financial/investment basis I can’t help but think she’s right. She must have been right occasionally to build her empire as well. Note good “taste” isn’t really involved here; see also: Trump.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
A lot of people decided to dig up the concrete laid down by previous owners, though (see comment 1, for instance). I’ve seen this countless times at private homes, commercial space, and educational facilities. It also makes me think of the Pistilli Riverview East building, which, while sorry looking on the 21st Street side, is greatly improved by the landscaping. I’ve heard nothing but positive reviews for the added grass, shrubs, and trees.
Maybe someone can explain to me why a concrete slab is worth more than greenery? I mean, I know why grass is better than concrete, on an aesthetic level at least. But if you have plenty of room for your car with the driveway that’s already there, why pave over the grass/plants/bushes/whatever? It makes no sense to me.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
So you can fit 2 cars, thus increasing value.
I personally wish this was outlawed, retroactively so everyone who has done it within the last ten years would have to put the dirt/tree/bushes/greenery back, but that’s not going to happen.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Thanks, kyle. That makes “sense” but MAKES NO SENSE.
I’m also on board with the retroactive ban. But yeah, it’ll never happen… or maybe when cars go the way of the dodo in like, 300 years.