But if you were allowed to/worked out a deal to paint those side walls, that could be a really cool looking space.
I remember some of my favourite spaces in the city I lived in where narrow valleys between buildings like this. The trick for light (enough for a great garden) was to hang cheap mirrors on the top part of each side wall.
Time to buy the balloons.
Reminds me of the Edith Macefield house, in Ballard (Seattle, WA).
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If you’re ever in Ballard, I highly recommend the excellent cocktail bar Hazelwood, which pays tribute to her with a namesake cocktail (the Edith Macefield).
I think if the house was first then that’d be sad, yes. But if someone bought the lot and managed to get a house in there legally (or just got away with it) then that’s pretty rad. Like a brilliantly yellow dandelion forcing itself through a crack in an otherwise seamless, lifeless and bland sidewalk.
I think the house being there first is the more likely scenario. I like your optimism though!
It’s like a sad Wes Anderson film