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KM1
(Texas)

Posts:15

07/27/2008 5:17 PM
Hello experts! I need some inventive ideas on how we might number our townhome community so that the buildings could be identified more easily - especially in the case of an emergency! We have two streets only - example Redland Way that is the "main drag" and cross-street Redland Circle. The problem is our 140+ units (26 buildings)are numbered the same on either street. Example - there is a 2408 Redland Way, and a 2408 Redland Circle! (Genius, huh?!) Please note, each building has multiple units with their own addresses, such as 2408, 2410, and 2412 all on one building. Over the past couple years since being built, there has been great confusion to any visitors, evidenced by delivery personnel, pizza people, friends, etc. I fear valuable time may be lost some day during an emergency. This is exacerbated by the centermost buildings (the ones not facing any particular street) being divided so that one row of four buildings will have two buildings classified as Way, and the other two being Circle (on the same row)! Hope this makes sense - hard to explain without a map! The board has discussed options such as numbering buildings 1 - 26 respectively and placing numbers on building walls (brick) streetside. Kind of unsightly? Also, not "official" to postal service, and can't necessarily force residents to use so may not be effective. We also thought stenciling the numbers on the sidewalk such as many homes do...but we can't certainly put each home number on the curb or there would be no room! Any ideas would be appreciated! I don't want any residents to lose precious time during an emergency, because our number/street system was poorly designed. Thanks to all!

KirkW1
(Texas)

Posts:1110

07/27/2008 6:54 PM
It sounds like a great idea. I will give you some ideas to consider: -- You could also use the alphabet. -- You could use a combination and divide into areas. (A1 - A5 in the same quadrant) -- You might be able to incorporate directions. (This might also be as a sub designator such as building A1 having A1S on the south end and A1N on the north.) -- You could have a sign made that includes the name of the community. It doesn't need to be industrial marking. -- You may want to mark the ends, and also the fronts (and any other direction people might approach the building). -- You should contact the fire department as you work on this. They will likely appreciate the thing. Also 911 services should have a chart that will let them conert an address to a building designation. -- Management company should also have the conversion chart. -- Soliciting feedback before you put up the signs can ensure things stay positive. While some may not care for it, if you present the idea to people as a safety issue, they will likely get behind it. The incidental benefit is being easier to help someone find you. But stress the ambulance. It strikes a cord.

GlenL
(Ohio)

Posts:1362

07/27/2008 8:48 PM
Wouldn't it be easier to change Redland Circle to another name entirely? Although it would be a pain and inconvenience to the people currently living there to have new checks and stationary printed it seems like it would be beneficial in the long run. If they are dedicated streets you will need to work through your local city or county government. As for easily distinguishing them for emergency personnel contact your local fire and police chief s and ask for their imput.

GeorgerwilliamsW
(Indiana)

Posts:705

07/28/2008 1:35 AM
We are living with an identical problem for the past 16 years. Changing a street name is extremely difficult, but if you can get 80 percent or so of owners to agree, it can be done. We have decided to live with the problem.

KirkW1
(Texas)

Posts:1110

07/28/2008 5:30 AM
Changing a street name can be difficult. In my case, it was very easy. But there were only nine houses on my street and all houses agreed with the change. But I don't think that will help this poster unless they change what street a building is assigned to (then also requiring new numbers which is going to be a higher level of headache). Sometimes in multi-family dwellings there is no clear street to assign the building. So the developer quickly glances and chooses a street. In this case, whoever did it probably tried to strike a balance in the most sensible way that 30 seconds will allow. I personally think they are on the right track of labeling the buildings. First, you don't have to ask city council for the change. And while I was told that not everyone had to agree, I was expected to try hard to get everyone to agree. The amount of effort required is not linear with the number of units involved. Too many and it becomes harder and harder until you give up on one owner. I would try hard to make the labels be functional and as esthetically pleasing as possible. And I would seek feedback from interested people and a slice of those who don't care enough to seek giving feedback.

DwightT
(Idaho)

Posts:443

07/28/2008 7:42 AM
If you do look into changing the street names, you might also want to go talk to your emergency responders (firefighters, EMTs, etc). They don't like the confusion either and they can be a great ally when it comes time to petition the city or county for the name change.

EllenS1
(Florida)

Posts:350

07/28/2008 2:39 PM
KM1, If there is no huge objection I would go to the City and ask that one of the roads be renamed. In our area developers chose a name and if it is not already taken the City usually oks it. Explore this with your councilman/woman and when you see that indeed you may request a street change name survey homeowners to see how they feel. I would think the "emergency" issue would be enough to have them go through the angst of changing their mailing addresses.

RobertR1
(South Carolina)

Posts:2076

07/28/2008 2:53 PM
I second this good advice. Go to the Local Fire Department that covers your area (and hopefully you all support) and have a sit down with the Chief. Fire Chiefs can move mountains to insure they are absolutely aware of what addresses are where. They can also write recommendations and suggestions for the membership perusal. They will on occasion speak at local government meetings to clarify some response problem. So give him/her a try.

EllenS1
(Florida)

Posts:350

07/28/2008 3:06 PM
Robert, You have such good ideas. The hoa can have someone from the fire company address all the homeowners at a meeting.

SusanW1
(Michigan)

Posts:2122

07/28/2008 3:47 PM
Is the postal service having a difficult time with your addresses? Or is this a building ID issue? How about naming each building? (after a tree, flower, or even a state) or color coding the doors? Put up different awnings, colored arbors, or gates at the entrance of each building.

KirkW1
(Texas)

Posts:1110

07/28/2008 8:42 PM
... This is exacerbated by the centermost buildings (the ones not facing any particular street) being divided so that one row of four buildings will have two buildings classified as Way, and the other two being Circle (on the same row)! ... Changing street names simply will not resolve the issue that is presented here. 1) It is not obvious which street a given building belongs with regardless of the name. 2) It is not obvious what set of numbers belong to each building. Also, I can tell you from personal experience that changing a street name is no picnic. City Council was easy to get by. I took a petition to all my neighbors and everyone signed it. City Council passed the measure unanimously and several members thanked me personally for taking on the issue. It has taken three months to get my new street into the USPS database. The local post office had the new address quickly. But alas, they couldn't tell me straight for 6 weeks. And many times people assume that a change of address means I have moved. Then I have to explain to them when it isn't the case. And who knows how long it will take for maps systems to update... On the other hand a label can be slapped on the building as quickly as a sign maker can make the signs. And nobody has to change their address. The postal service isn't the one getting lost. It is the poor delivery person who isn't sure what street a given building belongs to. Or happens to not quickly do the math to calculate which stairs the address belongs to. But it is easy to add: "I am in building three on the left side as you approach from the parking lot on Blah Blah Circle."

DonnaS
(Tennessee)

Posts:2797

07/29/2008 6:12 AM
Kirk, I think that you have this one right on the head. Changing street names will screw up everything. GPS's will not know where you are for at least a year or 2. Post office, checks,everyone needs to be reprogramed. Easiest solution--A< B< C< D< etc. Flower or object names?? Not easy to remember or to file with paperwork. Don't forget, this is for the whole world to identify your buildings. Make it simple.

KM1
(Texas)

Posts:15

08/02/2008 5:57 PM
Many many thanks to everyone for all their input and ideas! And what a great many points to consider! It's been about three years until we could look ourselves up on any website-map-search engine!! And as Kirk pointed out, the situation couldn't be helped by street name changing due to the unique way our buildings are divided. I am going to seek final inputs from our emergency personnel across the street and then make my recommendations. Thanks again! I can always count on great feedback here at HOATalk! Respectfully, Karen

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