No to the built-up flower beds. Instead plant shrubs at ground level that are caning or don’t mind being cut back hard so they can be cut back if you need to rake the porch roof or when you paint. Have at last some be evergreen, and choose shrubs that will stay below the level of the porch floor or a bit taller except for perhaps for the corner closest to the drive. Underplant with a flowering evergreen ground cover. You may be able to reuse some of what groundcover is already there, but I can’t see well enough what it is. Make the front beds deeper front to back, at least 6’ deep so there is room for plants and so the garden is sized proportionate to the house. Remove the current tall skinny trees. Mulch well, and give the beds a clean, easily maintained edging.

Replace the front walk. Put in a generous landing at the base of the steps that extends the whole width of the steps, and have a front walk that is a minimum of 4’ wide. If there isn’t a walkway from the base of the steps to the drive, add one. It can be close to the width of the current front walk.

HKO, thank you for your thoughts! I definitely think you're right about the cedar. My husband is hesitant to remove this as it offers privacy on the deck. He'll take some convincing...

We unfortunately have to keep the fire escape per code.

Are you kidding? Chain saw.

Yeah, front porches aren't for privacy, you use the back porch/yard for that. Those trees have to go. The front of your home is supposed to be inviting, not foreboding and no one wants to approach an area where they can't see who might be lurking :) If you are intent on privacy hang some sort of roll-up shades on the ends but leave the front open.

Huge "No" to the raised beds. It wouldn't only complicate things, it would add a junky quality in spite of your doing it "well." You can do everything you need to do with the plants themselves. It wouldn't hurt to install a flush set mowing strip (not raised) to border the beds. The mowing strip could be anywhere form 8" to 16" width. I'm placing a small tree at the right side as you have a little more room there.

Do something simple unless you will be near to maintain. We have some small spirea that I whack down each spring and it grows right back (zone 5). Hosta are great for shade, "autumn joy" sedum is pretty all spring, summer, fall and handles salt runoff from snow/ice removal. Yes, the lumbering giants need to go to lumbering giant heaven. Side walk needs attention. Good luck!