The Value of an Address: How Cities Around the World Utilize Street Names and Building Numbers
In cities across the United States, an address is more than just a street name or a building number- but a brand that translates directly into a symbol of wealth and prestige. Take the tallest residential tower in the country, 432 Park Avenue in New York City, which doesn't actually sit quite on park avenue. Instead, it’s neighboring lot to the east sits on Park Avenue, and this mega structure actually faces 56th avenue- a significantly less iconic street. This practice of creating “vanity addresses” is hardly new, and has been misleading city dwellers for more than 30 years, famously dubbing itself as one of the most successful gimmicks in real estate marketing and promotion, but also creating an increasing problem where residents and visitors don’t know where a building is located because it doesn’t follow a standardized system of how the city identifies buildings.
Broadway and Wall Street in New York City. Image © Photo by Andy Willis on Unsplash
In cities across the United States, an address is more than just a street name or a building number- but a brand that translates directly into a symbol of wealth and prestige. Take the tallest residential tower in the country, 432 Park Avenue in New York City, which doesn't actually sit quite on park avenue. Instead, it’s neighboring lot to the east sits on Park Avenue, and this mega structure actually faces 56th avenue- a significantly less iconic street. This practice of creating “vanity addresses” is hardly new, and has been misleading city dwellers for more than 30 years, famously dubbing itself as one of the most successful gimmicks in real estate marketing and promotion, but also creating an increasing problem where residents and visitors don’t know where a building is located because it doesn’t follow a standardized system of how the city identifies buildings.
