Yew. You can cut a yew anywhere between the branch tips and the root crown and have it sprout replacement shoots.

Thank you! @ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 - Boston is the nearest city.

Here's a shot from behind the one on the left side of the photo. It does look like it will be pretty ugly for a while if we cut it back as much as we'd like.

You have so many wonderful choices of shrubs in your zone that I would get rid of those yews in a heartbeat. They are just green blobs.

Thanks @indianagardengirl- I agree! What would you recommend for a replacement?

If you cut them back, they'll be looking decent next year.

If the house faces north, I'd think long and hard before yanking them. Winters are long enough that you do want evergreens, and the yews can be a nice backdrop to something more interesting in front.

Hoping someone in your zone/area will give you some advice, as they know your area much better than I. I just know you have a ton more options. You might want to tell us how big that space is from the front stoop to the side of the house? And just for kicks, here’s something posted this afternoon, although not evergreen.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5887270/blue-billow-hydragea

In zone 7 there are no shortage of evergreen shrubs available, either broadleaved or needled. And plenty for a shadier north facing facade as well. And yews do not grow rapidly even under the best of conditions and whacked back shrubs in an entry garden for a couple of seasons is not a nice look:-)

My usual suggestion to visit a local independent garden center (not a box store) and see what they have on offer for your locale has become difficult under current circumstances. But if you can tell us where in zone 7 you are located (nearby large city), then we can make some appropriate suggestions.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) I'm in the greater Boston area

@mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY) good point - the front is facing NNE

The more common types of yew grow quite fast in this region. According to Dirr, Hicksii reaches 20 ft in 15 to 20 years. That's a growth rate of more than a foot a year, which is what is what I've seen. Since these are already established, they are going to grow that fast from the start.

Yew is the traditional bow wood for English longbows. If you have any thinker trunks that are at least 6 feet long in there, you could give them to a traditional bowyer. It looks as though they are too thin, tho...