I think it is too big for your spot. Even if you bonsai it, it will throw out long stems that look silly (at least that's what mine did). I would pull it out and put in a Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum or a dwarf arborvitae or some other shrub. Maybe you could cut it flush with the ground and see if skinny suckers would grow up nice and fresh. That would be nice if it worked.
Renee

I agree with Renee, your privet is far too rampant a grower for your space. A tow chain attached to your car will pull it out roots and all. Al

Oh A1 you make me laugh. Before I can even think about taking it out I better call Edison first just for safety reasons. Wouldn't want to be electrocuted.
I have read about cutting them to the ground but I should have done that 3 months ago...
I guess I could spray roundup this fall then if any winter rain take it out them for easier removal.
You can see the neighbors is even bigger.

I have seen them pruned into very narrow hedges that always seem to look very good.

If you soak the soil overnight it will pull right out of the ground, and save you a lot of digging. I have a winch on my tractor and frequently remove seedling weed trees this way. It prevents future suckers coming up from roots left in the soil. Al

If had a tractor I would use it, but I don't dare try that with my car.
I have requested digalert.com to mark it so I know what I'm getting into. Or I kill it and once dead it'll come right out this winter easily. I'll probably end up cutting it back...see what happens.
When I killed my old roses and soaked them they came out so easy also. That is really the only way to dig in hard packed clay.

Yeah, what do you have to lose by cutting it back hard? It may give you another few years of green.
Renee

I have a privet hedge that I prune twice a year, spring and fall, and keep it very narrow (about 12-15 inches) and about 7' in height. It looks good!

The neighbors cut theirs right down to the ground. They all grew back. Other neighbors have some so large and so old they've limbed them up into beautiful small (20') trees. They are suprisingly graceful.

I guess the net-net is, they are hard to kill no matter what you do.

They look better headed back than they do sheared, because of the size of the leaves.