How exciting to have a new blank canvas to work with!
I'm jealous, even though I know how much work it may be for you.
I like Mike's idea that when you plant next to the "easement" areas out front of a yard, use whatever drought-tolerant plants you can to save from having to tend to it much. Also, since the sidewalks are public access, try to keep any plants with a lot of overhang back from the cement (many of the taller grasses and spreading flowers will grow out and over quite a bit) as they can become a safety hazard. The last thing I want, for example, is for DH's favorite tall ornamental grass to fall onto and cover part of the sidewalk and make walking or bicycling across it a hazard - so I have to trim it back more often than I'd like. It has become much easier to have short, compact ground covers like mondo grass, blue fescue, or sea thrift (blooms all summer here) as a "buffer" between the edge of the sidewalk and any other plants that are arranged a foot or two back... just some additional thoughts.
