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 coastal enclave in California has stuck to its quirky ways, eschewing street addresses in favor of charming driving descriptors and fanciful house names.

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

In a controversial 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 city of 3,200, the Los Angeles Times reported. Proponents argue the move is essential for public safety and necessary to comply with the state fire code, which mandates building numbers.

“So we have to wait for someone to die in order to decide that this is the right thing to do? It's the law," said council member Karen Ferlito, who cast her vote in favor of the change.

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

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

"This is a life and death situation in my life and my family's," said Deanna Dickman, a concerned resident who spoke at the City Council meeting. "I want a street address so people can find it on GPS and get there, and my wife can get the medicine she needs."

Dikman's wife wants a mail-order refrigerator shot. An earlier shipment was thrown over a fence and destroyed.

Susan Bjerre recounted a similar ordeal when she needed oxygen to leave the hospital. "I will be on the road. I will wave at you", said Bjerre.

Opponents of the change argue that rezoning will erode the city's beloved character.

"We're losing this place, day by day and week by week, to people who want to modernize us, who want to take us to a new level," said Neal Kruse, co-chairman of the Carmel Preservation Society. "We want to stay where we are."

Artist and longtime resident Alice Cory expressed concerns that addressing the city would take away its signature appeal. "Let's keep this small town sweet because people know Carmel for a reason," Cory said.

City administrative analyst Emily Garay stressed the practical necessity of the change. "While local authorities may be familiar with Carmel's unconventional navigation, other emergency responders may struggle to locate residents quickly," Garay explained.

Andrew Miller, Chief of the Monterey Fire Department, supported the measure, stating, "If the question is, 'Is it more useful to identify building numbers?' Yes, absolutely."

Some residents worry the new addresses could lead to home delivery of mail, potentially jeopardizing the city's beloved post office, where residents go to get their mail.

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

The postal lobby was recently red-tagged after a car accident, adding fuel to the fire of concern.

Before casting his dissenting vote, Mayor Dave Potter expressed concern "that we're losing our character of our community along the way here."

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

"If we say we're going to lose our queerness because we have an address, I think that's a false narrative," she said. "This is more than strange. These are vital emergencies."