That's not an acceptable site for anything but grass, really. Obviously, tall shrubs would end up growing over into the driveway AND the adjoining sidewalk. Trees wouldn't be happy in a narrow planting site such as that, either. I can't even imagine how compacted the soil must be. Think, too, about tree trunks getting in the way, and whether or not an overhead canopy would cause a lot of grief with the neighbor.

Trees, when forced to grow in very cramped spaces, tend to allow their root systems to become unruly. This typically results in buckled roads, sidewalks, and driveways.

When you into such a neighborhood, you've gotta learn to love the appearance of the adjoining house.

Thanks Rhizo 1,
I know you are correct, just can't seem to convince my hubby that is the case.
cheers!

You might try a 4' wide trellis (where the car door opens and run a good evergreen vine on that and keep it trimmed to the width of the trellis. Alongside each post of the trellis plant two skypencil hollies and then repeat the trellis and hollies up that strip.
Skypencil is not prickly and it is fastigiate..tall and thin.
It will ultimately get between 8-10' tall and less than 2' wide.
To protect your car doors, you might want to use poly pipe and run poly-coated rope in a mesh as trellising material.

Wow Dottie,
Thanks so much. For some reason I am not getting email notifications on my postings, and was just back on this topic again. Thanks so much for the suggestion. I'll give this a shot.

Sure do miss Charlotte, particularly this time of year. I really miss my gardenias and jasmine.

enjoy!