When Terry Laurenzio moved to City View 35 years ago, it felt like a pocket of country living in the middle of the city. Homes built over various decades sit on large lots with mature trees, shrubs and other greenery. It’s located just blocks away from the busy Merivale Road, but in its streets, there is a sense of quiet.
Laurenzio's wife grew up in the neighborhood, so it was always an obvious choice for them to settle there. When they stumbled upon his home of three and a half decades, the couple immediately knew they wanted it thanks to the earthly privacy it offered.
“No matter what window I looked out, all I saw was green,” he said. “We used to live on Fifth Avenue in the Glebe, so this was a big change. It was almost like country living in the city.
But little by little, Laurenzio said that feeling is disappearing.
Older, family-style homes are being torn down and replaced by larger infill projects — many of which cater to students. Mature trees are coming down and new ones aren’t always being planted. Properties that once had grass, gardens and shade are being paved over.
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