Clintonville Spotlight

Many Clintonville houses put their best feature forward



What is one of the notable differences you notice when driving through one of Columbus’ many suburban neighborhoods, to realize you’re no longer in Clintonville?

For me, it has to be the lack of front porches.

I know, some people will point to the dearth of mature trees, or the disconnect between residential and commercial areas, or other issues.

But as I drive through these newer neighborhoods, in Lewis Center, in Jefferson Township, in Pickerington and elsewhere, I cannot get past the overly prominent garages in front of many homes – with no porches to be seen.

In other words, the “car rooms” are the first thing you notice in front of most houses while the cozy outdoor gathering places often are hidden in back of the homes.

There’s something to be said for the privacy that a backyard oasis offers. We need a place to be able to escape from
real world stresses (and indoor housework!) and experience at least a small taste of the outdoors.

But consider for a moment what our Clintonville front porches contribute to the quality of life we enjoy here.
First, the positive impression our porches leave on visitors is a powerful one. We don’t appear to be a car-centric community in which homeowners enter and exit their houses through garages, often behind closed doors.

When front porches become the primary places to gather outdoors, residents tend to have a better handle on the comings and goings in their neighborhood. While that might seem a little creepy on its surface, this actually contributes to a stronger sense of security.

It is comforting to know that a neighbor is aware of an unusual car parked nearby, or whether a screen door has been left wide open.

That “monitoring” is just one component of the true neighborly connections that are possible from front porches.

When they are used the way they are meant to be, porches become places from where we see our neighbors, invite them over for a cold drink and build relationships.

I know that front porches have been cast aside as lot sizes have shrunk, alleys are no longer used for backyard vehicle access and costs are reduced by eliminating porches. These changes have traded green space in the front yard for similar space in the back.

We value our back yards and the privacy they provide in a world where privacy seems harder and harder to find.

“People live in their back yards, entertain in their back yards, barbecue in their back yards,” architect Ronald Mayotte told the Chicago Tribune several years ago.

“If you put a garage and a driveway there, it destroys the back yard.”

Still, I believe the distinct Clintonville house – one with a lovely porch on the front and the garage tucked off to the side or even back yard – will always have a special attraction for me and others who value the sense of neighborhood that accompanies it.

Cliff Wiltshire is editor and publisher of Clintonville Spotlight.

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