Open Spot on my Layout

It would be better to se a picture of the entire layout to get a better perspective on it.One idea is a tunnel and some dimensional terrain.That is usually inexpensive compared to store bought fixtures.Good luck man.Nick

How about a hobo shanty.  You could most likely make something or I believe Plasticville made a hobo shacks kit.  You could build campfire, tents, and other items to make it a great hobo hangout.

Steve, Lady and Tex

A behind the building scene. Parking lot, open paved area, small service road. Cellular tower, dumpsters, pallets.

or a nice parking lot with lined parking spaces to service a small passenger station or freight depot. Cellular tower.

Cellular tower.

The building owners own that lot at the rear of the building. The income from the cell tower lease is an added bonus. They had an "in" with zoning and council to get the construction approved.

Whatever you do decide to build there, don't forget to add some trees. A nice little copse can look as good as a forest in most cases, and can transform a layout. 

You can put in a small park.  Some benches, lights, people, a fence and trees.  Not bad on a budget.

Many small towns don't have enough on street parking in front so they have parking lots in back.  This also gives you a great place to show off your cars.  You can have a trash truck scene, a policeman arresting someone, trees around the perimeter, and etc.

Art

How about early stages of a construction scene?  

Put in some piles of real orange dirt and get some yellow earth mover construction vehicles.

Cheap, shows real life, and when you have the money to buy more buildings, it will be easy to clean up and start over.

The picture is a sign I made with a photo backdrop behind it.  But this scene could be modeled easily.

I would take you buildings, turn them 45°, create an intersection of streets and maybe place a park or small 2-story farmhouse in the foreground. it would create some visual interest, instead of the linear look you have now.

If it were on my layout, it would depend on how this open area related to the aisles/viewing around the layout.  It looks like the layout backs up to a wall behind this area: if so and you can't see it from the side, either, the view is partly blocked by the buildings in the foreground, so I'd put something tall there, like maybe an industrial facility with a turnout leading to it and a crane, etc. 

A mountain with tunnel.

How about a ballpark, football field, or playground for the kids.

Community Park with trees, picnic tables/shelter , horseshoes, volleyball,etc.

Your area is larger than I thought, up against a wall, and blocked by buildings. If the buildings could be moved back, that would be best, IMO. Then you could fill with something low in the front.

There have been some really good ideas so far.

My first thought was "What are your interests?" If you put something in the space that speaks to one of your hobbies or interests, your layout is going to have more meaning to you than just putting something generic there to fill up space.

Are you interested in sports? - a small ball field for baseball, football or a couple of courts for basketball.

Dogs - a dog park.

Animals - a small zoo.

Walking or just enjoying the outdoors - a park as others have mentioned.

You have a beer sign on the building - if you like craft beer, build a small brew pub with a beer garden.

You forum name is chefnme - if there is a chef in your life, a food stand with a seating area, or if you can find some cheap delivery van type vehicles, put in a parking lot and print out some colorful graphics on paper to glue on the trucks, add some people, and you have a gathering for food trucks.

Wow!! There are some great ideas here! I am am really having a hard time deciding what to do. Anyway, I am really liking the football field idea.

trestrainfan- Actually chef is the name of my dog/co-engineer! Haha!

Thanks guys!

Looks like a perfect site for an auto wrecking yard, to me.  This can be done for next to nothing:

-Form HD tinfoil shiny side up over diecast or toy autos.

-Use scissors to cut off the excess round the bottom.

-Paint the body with craft water base paints or any leftover paint.

-Leave the bumpers "chrome".  That is why shiny side up.

-Open hoods, trunks, doors with hobby knife as desired.

Lots of great ideas!!  I particularly like those that have something to do with automobiles/wrecking yard/parking lot, etc....

Alan

How about a junk yard?