The houses on Cherry Hill, are very nice to say the least. They are probably worth much more than the houses in Flagstaffs southside. Once you start the walk up Cherry st, you notice the road starts to curve and lose the linear, grid pattern we see downtown, the building become much more isolated - set farther back from the road, deliberate landscaping to shield from road and neighbors. When compared to the business section of DT this is a great break in landscape. From wanting to be seen and seen as convenient to wanting to be secluded and not open to outside viewing. This goes hand-in-hand with the switch from commercial to residential.
I really like that most of the landscaping is done with native vegetation- saves water & prevents intrusive species from killing native ones. Although, honestly this is not peak lawn season so I doubt that is really that case. I am sure there is an HOA in this neighborhood as well. Another think I noticed was the great embellishment of the outsides of houses, they may not want you seeing their house but if you do they want it to look good. The use of non operational shutters, cutesy flourishes, and false windows as an aesthetic for the outside viewer makes the home owner appear ... something. Fashion before function is usually the best way right??
The Mormon Church that is a predominant landmark along the main road shows a wealthy Mormon influence as opposed to Baptist or Catholic churches else where around town. I wonder if any other littler churches were constructed on this neighborhood after this church?
Good observation. I didn't notice the little details on the houses, such as the non-operational shutters and false windows. It's interesting that you would find this in Flagstaff, because it's a common theme amongst the architecture in the mid west amongst the middle and upper class homes.
ReplyDeleteGreat post especially in the comparison of the housing on Cherry and Benton Avenue. Also good observations on how the land began to change from commercial to residential and how the landscape changed from a grid pattern to a non-linear pattern. I felt the same way about the landscape being used to shield the neighborhood.
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