It looks quite a bit like Podocarpus macrophyllus or Japanese yew/yew pine. But not a very healthy example :-) Looks rather chlorotic, which may be due to its proximity to concrete and perhaps alkaline soil conditions and it looks like its been pruned a bit brutally as well.

Quite lush-looking despite poor color but planting space has become too small anyway. A good rule is to plant shrubs that grow 1 1/2 times high as the bed is wide at the point they are planted at.

Obvious exception climbing plants trained flat on fences or walls behind narrow beds.

Believe it or not I think this is the healthiest looking specimen of the bunch. There are 2 others that look very sad. Around the house there is like four inches of good soil over the hardest packed clay like soil you can imagine. Trying to find ways to remedy that situation still... or am I doomed to grow sickly looking plants forever :)

Plant smaller-growing kinds adapted to local soils. Look around to see what else in the community seems to be doing well and would fit the space. Maybe visit some nearby demonstration gardens, public gardens, arboreta etc. for ideas. Many plants there will have signs and labels.

Thanks for the feedback. I will look into some shrubs more appropriate for the space. Looking at nearbly gardens sound like a good idea.