California town without addresses divided over plan to issue street numbers

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After more than a century of address-free living, Carmel-By-the-Sea, a California town known for its white-sand beaches is moving ahead with a plan to assign street numbers to homes and businesses. And many long-time residents aren’t happy about it.

The town’s residents and visitors must navigate a woodsy 1-square-mile landscape where houses, stores, restaurants and other buildings don’t have numbers. It’s even more difficult at night because the town has few street lights.

When asked for their address, residents describe their homes’ color or style, nearby landmarks like cypress trees and fire hydrants, or their location relative to the nearest cross street. Many houses have signs with whimsical names like Neverland, Dreamcatcher and Pinch Me, or descriptors such as “San Antonio 3 SE of 9th.”

There is no mail delivery service, so residents must pick up their mail at the U.S. post office, the only building with an official address.

But street address may finally be coming to this coastal town of 3,300 residents, about 120 miles (193.12 kilometers) south of San Francisco. In July, the city council voted 3-2 to move forward with a plan to issue street numbers.

“When emergency crews are responding, particularly at night, it’s very difficult to count houses in order to find the right house,” Councilmember Karen Ferlito said, noting the city has an aging population. “Sometimes they go to the wrong house and that wastes precious time.”

Residents complain that many government agencies and businesses require a physical address for service. They say delivery and taxi drivers can’t find their homes and often drop off packages and food orders at the wrong house.

But many don’t see the need for street addresses in their town, even in modern times when people increasingly use their addresses to shop online and get important legal documents.

Those opposed include the mayor who voted against the measure.

The issue of street addresses has generated controversy in Carmel since its founding in 1916, often pitting business owners against residents intent on preserving the town’s character, culture and village charm.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

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[Carmel coastline]

[Carmel anniversary sign]

[Tourists next to downtown shop]

[Tourists at Normandy Inn]

[Fancy Carmel house]

Grant Johnson (interview): “We’ve just never had street addresses within the city limits of Carmel. So it’s not a lack of anything. This is the way Carmel’s been since its founding back in 1916 or 17, over 100 years ago.”

[Carmel neighborhood]

[Carmel house]

[Carmel house sign with locator]

Grant Johnson (interview): “That’s one of the charms of Carmel. It’s one of the stories we get to tell. There’s no street addresses.”

[Virginia Crapo opening mailbox at the post office]

Virginia Crapo (interview): “I think it’s more communal when you have to come down to the post office to get your mail, because you can see your neighbors and the people that you work with or friends.”

[Exterior of U.S. post office]

Virginia Crapo (interview): “I’ve lived here so long, I’ve kind of forgotten what it’s like to have mail delivered, so it doesn’t bother me.”

[Mayor Potter in front of his house]

Dave Potter (interview): “Well, what the council decided on a 3-2 vote was we go ahead and take a look at getting street addresses in Carmel.”

[Sign in front of Carmel City Hall]

Dave Potter (interview): “I just don’t think it’s necessary. I mean, honestly, we’ve lived this way for 100 years. We don’t need them.”

[Carmel house]

[Sign with name and locator]

[Signs with house name and locator]

[Karen Ferlito showing documents at home]

Karen Ferlito (interview): “I have many, many constituents, many residents in this town that have been having, lots of complications and problems caused by not having street addresses. And this ranges everything from not having medicines delivered to not being able to turn on utilities, to not being able to get a credit card.”

[UPS driver putting boxes into the truck]

[UPS driver dropping off package at home]

Karen Ferlito (interview): “When emergency crews are responding, particularly at night, it’s very difficult to count houses in order to find the right house. Sometimes they go to the wrong house and that wastes precious time.”

[Bruce Edwards walking inside the post office]

[Edwards taking mail out of post office box]

Bruce Edwards (interview): “I’m in favor of it because of delivery issues. Uber will work better. The ambulances will be able to find us when I have a heart attack. And my UPS driver will be able to deliver my books.”

[Edwards looking through mail in the post office]

Bruce Edwards (interview): “I don’t think street numbers will ruin the charm. No, it’s fine having street numbers.”

[Coastal homes next to the Pacific Ocean]

This script was provided by The Associated Press.

The related lesson for this video will be published next Wednesday.