Short Term

 This is a high priority area. I need to put this place in shape for the work to come on the wall. I believe that I can get a great return on some effort expended here. The conversion I hope to make here is to a grass lawn with the high point under the drain hole in the wall, yonder. I think fescue grass will thrive in this spot and I have plenty of that on hand so this won't require any money.
There is a concrete car path mostly covered over with grass about 10" away from the wall. The path is an obstruction and has to go. Perfect. I need to bolster the concrete footer wall, the top of which is exposed. So here is my plan of attack: First, remove the ornamental plants to elsewhere in the yard. Excavate grade to a line three or four inches below the top of the concrete footer wall and back fill with busted concrete chunks to just below the top of the footer wall. I want to see if I can't put some kind of brick or stone landing for rain runoff through the porch drain. Then, I need to get a grade going that will move the runoff away from the foundation. This might require a good bit of spade and rake work. After I get a grade I will seed it with fescue.
My intention is to cultivate lawn in this area out from our house and into the lot next to us. I have the owners' blessing in this. On our side there is only about four and three-quarter  feet to the boundary line. This area, on the east side from the fence gate to the curb has been a shared space with the former house next door since this house was built. I  keep a swath on their side about equal to the area on our side, plus three-quarters. The only monetary cost to me is the water. I have faith that the cost of effort will be returned ten or twenty-fold in what I will call curb appeal. I approve this project because the area is ugly now and I believe this improvement to be an excellent investment to make at this time.