*But were afraid to ask

Dear Miss Victoria Anna,

What role does landscaping play in creating a “streetscape”? - Sincerely, Terry Greenland

Dear Mr. Greenland,

Landscaping creates the setting for the structures that sit on any one lot and along any streetscape vista. Therefore, the lawns sidewalks, fences, plantings and shrubbery, and ornamentations play a critical role in establishing a “streetscape”.

Ocean Grove has always been a community of homes oriented to the street. Residents on their full front porches have always looked out over their small, open front lawns and interacted frequently with neighbors and pedestrians.

Low or non-existent front picket or pipe rail fences enhanced the feeling of neighborliness and community. The natural air conditioning of fresh ocean breezes funneled inland by the flared avenues was unimpeded by the low growing flowers and shrubs. Inland a few blocks, the continued presence of pine, oak and maple trees significantly supported the maintenance of a naturally comfortable environment.

Meanwhile the use of grass lawns and the grass strip between sidewalk and street created attractive, passive buffers from the noise and heat of the street. Retaining walls were only used when the differential in grades made it impossible to gently slope or berm a lawn toward the street. These flat block, vertical retaining walls were built and located to be as unobtrusive as possible and were not used as “decorative” features. All of these landscaping principles are even said to have helped maintain Ocean Grove’s legendary lack of mosquitos.

Local conditions, early planning, and Victorian tastes all have worked together to over the years to develop a general, prototypical landscaping design that reflects Ocean Grove’s heritage as a “Seaside Victorian Community”.

In many ways, the landscaping scheme that has evolved and been used in Ocean Grove, ties the various styles of homes built side by side together and helps to unify Ocean Grove’s historically recognized “streetscapes”. The continuity of the settings for all the buildings enhances the perception of cohesiveness and harmony.

When modern landscaping features are introduced in Ocean Grove front yards, they are very glaring in the way they disrupt the continuity of the “streetscape”. A perfect example is the use in modern shore communities of white stone for yard cover. It was never a part of Victorian design. The hard texture and bright reflectiveness of the stone give the lot a harshness very different from the gentle softness of a green lawn.

Likewise, Ocean Grove’s Victorians did not permanently install “hardscape” elements such as high decorative retaining walls, paved patios, statues, fountains, fish ponds, and gazebos in the publically visible potions of their lawns. They tended to prefer to keep that space open and free of barriers between themselves on their porches and the neighbors and passing pedestrians. The placement of a very private “hot tub” in a public space such as a front lawn would have caused a major Victorian scandal.

For these reasons, the use of “hardscape” elements in Ocean Grove front yards is really problematic. They are not only historically inappropriate, they are almost always visually inappropriate.

Today, when an Ocean Grove homeowner wishes to do landscaping work, it is important to respect the historic and aesthetic traditions of Ocean Grove. By continuing to create welcoming landscapes that feature low growing, open, green spaces that connect the front porch to the sidewalk and street and that are free of “hardscape” ornamentation, the homeowner is continuing to “Recapture the spirit of Ocean Grove” by maintaining and enhancing the vital contribution of Ocean Grove’s specially unifying landscape style to it’s nationally recognized Seaside Victorian streetscapes.

Sincerely, Victoria Anna

-Posted 7/7/07

Victoria will answer any questions or clarify any answers about the Historic Preservation Commission that you may have. Send her your questions by e-mailing RHavey@NeptuneTownship.org, or through the post at Victoria Anna, c/o HPC Office, PO Box 1125, Neptune NJ 07753.