This California city will soon break with more than 100 years of tradition and assign street addresses to its buildings

For more than a century, this quaint seaside enclave in California has clung to its whimsical ways, shunning street addresses in favor of charming directional descriptors and fanciful home names.

But now, the beloved tradition is set to become a thing of the past.

In a contentious 3-2 vote earlier this month, the Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council decided to break with tradition and assign street numbers to all buildings in the town of 3,200, reported the Los Angeles Times. Proponents argue that this move is crucial for public safety and necessary to comply with the state fire code, which mandates building numbers.

“Do we need to wait for someone to die in order to decide that this is the right thing to do? It is the law,” said Councilmember Karen Ferlito, who cast her vote in favor of the change.

Carmelites have cherished their unique navigation system. Instead of street addresses, locals have long relied on directional cues — City Hall is on the east side of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and 7th avenues — and property names like Sea Castle and Faux Chateau.

But as online shopping surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, so did frustrations with the town’s lack of street numbers. Residents struggled with lost packages, utility setups and medical deliveries, and some feared for their safety in emergencies.

“This is a life-and-death situation in my life and my family,” said Deanna Dickman, a concerned resident who spoke at the City Council meeting. “I want a street address that people can find on GPS and get there, and my wife can get the medication she needs.”

Dickman’s wife requires a refrigerated shot delivered by mail. A previous delivery was tossed over a fence and ruined.

Susan Bjerre recounted a similar ordeal when she needed oxygen delivered for a hospital discharge. “I will be in the street. I will wave you down,” Bjerre said.

Opponents of the change argue that assigning addresses will erode the town’s cherished character.

“We are losing this place, day by day and week by week, from people who want to modernize us, who want to take us to a new level,” said Neal Kruse, co-chair of the Carmel Preservation Association. “We want to stay where we are.”

Artist and longtime resident Alice Cory voiced concerns that addressing the town would strip it of its signature appeal. “Let’s keep the sweetness of this little town, because people know Carmel for a reason,” Cory said.

City administrative analyst Emily Garay highlighted the practical necessity of the change. “While local authorities might be familiar with Carmel’s unconventional navigation, other emergency responders might struggle to quickly locate residents,” Garay explained.

Andrew Miller, Chief of the Monterey Fire Department, supported the move, stating, “If the question is, ‘Is it more advantageous to have building numbers identified?’ Yes, absolutely.”

Some residents worry that the new addresses might lead to home mail delivery, potentially jeopardizing the town’s beloved post office where residents head to collect their deliveries.

However, David Rupert of the US Postal Service told the publication that the post office, established in 1889, has no plans to close.

The post office’s lobby was recently red-tagged after a car crash, adding fuel to the fire of concerns.

Before casting his dissenting vote, Mayor Dave Potter expressed concerns “about the fact that we’re kind of losing our character of our community along the way here.”

But Ferlito countered that addressing concerns is about more than preserving the character of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

“If we’re saying we will lose our quaintness because we have an address, I think that’s a false narrative,” she said. “This is more than quaintness. This is life emergencies.”