Stop Address Changes on Marywood

The Issue

Five years ago, the residents of Marywood Drive faced an unexpected and unwelcome challenge: a new house was built in our neighborhood that prompted a change in address for 5 established homes. Today, we face the same problem again, this time with a forced change to 12 homes, including the 5 that endured the previous change. On June 30th, we were sent a letter notifying us that we had only two months to change our addresses to accommodate a new lot that didn't even have a house built on it. The changes are set to take effect on September 1st. This not only causes unnecessary stress but also imposes a financial burden on the families who have called Marywood Drive home for years.

Forcing long-standing residents to change their addresses each time a new house or lot is proposed is unreasonable. Instead of imposing the logistical and emotional challenges of address changes on us—challenges which include altering our personal information with banks, the postal service, and various utilities—it's time to reconsider a more equitable solution.

We propose an alternative solution: implement ½ number addresses or a similar system for new constructions in neighborhoods like ours. Many older neighborhoods, established long before today's extensive numbering systems, face unique challenges when new developments arise. Using fractional or alternative address systems can ensure that existing homes retain their original addresses, maintaining stability and continuity for their residents.

Transitioning to such a system might also prevent potential confusion for delivery services, emergency services, and visitors, who rely on consistent and clear addressing systems. Moreover, maintaining existing addresses would preserve the emotional ties that residents have to their homes and community, which are often tied to those very numbers.

We urge the council, the mayor, and the planning committee to take immediate action in reconsidering the proposed address changes. By exploring and implementing a new address system that accommodates both existing and new homes, we can foster a community solution that benefits everyone.

Please lend your support by signing this petition. Help us advocate for a fair solution for the residents of Marywood Drive, respecting our concerns and crafting a policy that truly serves the entire community.

Keith FurrPetition Starter

Media inquiries

133

Let’s get to 200 signatures!

Petitions with 1,000+ supporters are 5x more likely to win!

The Issue

Keith FurrPetition Starter

Media inquiries

Support now

133

Let’s get to 200 signatures!

Petitions with 1,000+ supporters are 5x more likely to win!

The Decision Makers

Cyril Jefferson,

High Point City Mayor

Responded

North Carolina

“Thank you for reaching out. I understand why this situation is frustrating. Changing your home address creates a real burden, particularly for residents who have had the same address for many years. We take these concerns seriously, and I asked City staff to review whether there were reasonable alternatives to renumbering the affected homes. Unfortunately, because of the new residential construction on Marywood Road, the addresses must remain sequential so emergency responders can reliably locate every property. We’ve also heard suggestions about using half-numbers, letters or other variations instead of changing existing addresses. The challenge is that U.S. Postal Service systems do not reliably recognize those address formats. Using them can interfere with USPS mail-management systems and create the very real possibility of mail being delayed, misdirected or lost. For that reason, those alternatives aren’t a workable solution. While the address changes themselves are necessary, I do believe we can do a better job of reducing the burden on residents when situations like this occur. Going forward, we will look at updating our ordinance and process to provide residents with more advance notice and additional time to make the many changes that come with a new address. We’re also coordinating with our emergency responders so they are aware of the address changes and can account for them moving forward. I know none of this eliminates the inconvenience for the families affected. But I want you to know that we have heard your concerns, taken them seriously, explored the available alternatives, and are using this experience to improve our process for the future. Thank you again for reaching out. -Cyril Cyril Jefferson | Mayor City of High Point www.HighPointNC.gov “To improve is to change. To perfect is to change often.” -Winston Churchill [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”

Cyril Jefferson

High Point City Mayor

Responded

High Point City Council,

7 Members

2 Responded

North Carolina

Michael Holmes

High Point City Council - Ward 6

“I wanted to first say thank you to the Marywood Drive residents who have shared their concerns and organized the petition regarding the proposed address changes. I understand this is not a minor inconvenience. Changing an address affects identification, financial and medical records, insurance, deliveries, utilities, personal correspondence, and many other parts of daily life. Your frustration is both understandable and justified. Before responding, I wanted to exhaust every reasonable means of mitigating the impact on residents. I asked the City to fully review whether the existing addresses could remain in place, whether fractional or lettered addresses could be used, and whether another numbering arrangement could avoid or reduce the changes. After reviewing the available options, staff determined that those alternatives would conflict with the City’s addressing ordinance, create compatibility problems with USPS address-management tools, and potentially cause confusion for emergency responders. While fractional addresses may be used in some jurisdictions, they are not a workable option under the systems and policies governing this particular situation. The new development requires a safe, identifiable, and sequential address for each property. This is especially important for police, fire, and emergency medical personnel, who must be able to locate every residence and construction site quickly and without uncertainty. Reusing existing numbers or creating a nonsequential numbering pattern could introduce risks that the City cannot responsibly accept. I recognize that this explanation does not eliminate the disruption. However, based on the City’s ordinance, USPS system requirements, and public-safety considerations, the proposed renumbering remains the least disruptive viable option. The City provided a 60-day transition period so residents could notify the necessary agencies and service providers. I will also ask staff to provide residents with a clear address-change checklist and identify any available assistance to make that transition as manageable as possible. I appreciate the residents who raised this issue and advocated for their neighborhood. Although the requested outcome cannot be accommodated, your concerns have been heard, thoroughly reviewed, and taken seriously. Michael Holmes Council Member City of High Point www.HighPointNC.gov [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”

Vickie McKiver

High Point City Council - Ward 1

“I understand the frustration about the address changes. However, I agree with the Mayor’s response and believe the changes are necessary for safety , emergency response, and to meet U.S. Postal Service requirements. I appreciate your concerns and understanding. - Councilmember Vicki McKiver [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”