Ilion T. writes:

I’ve long been amused at the silly and pretentious names developers of malls and apartment complexes (oops, it’s now “communities”) give them, especially those in the form of “The This At The That.”  I think the most amusing I have yet seen is this one: “The Legends at St. Andrews.”

Laura writes:

That reminds me, I used to know someone who lived on Camelot Drive, next to Sir Galahad Court.

Yes, the new circumlocutions involve two locations, such as “The Preserve at Cherry Ford” or “The Mews at Dunley Dews” or “The Magdalena at Frenchmen’s Reserve.” The extra words reinforce the idea of estate living, such as Lord Garneyglook of Dromshire. “Foxhunt” and “Foxwoods” are popular for luxury housing developments, as is any word that conjures the British aristocracy. I think  “Ancien Régime” would be a terrific and very classy name for a development.

The “Magdalena,” mentioned above, opens up a world of possibilities with an ecclesiastical theme, perhaps “The Carthusians at Tupper Creek” or “Bishop’s Walk at Middletown.” I believe there are already a number of variations on the monastery and abbey theme, but I have yet to see anything suggestive of a convent. How about something like, “The Catacombs at Lorton Woods?” It’s got a nice ring to it. This is a literary field unto itself.

                                                              — Comments–

Hurricane Betsy writes:

This is hilarious! How about an equestrian theme? In fact, there is a super-rich area of Toronto called The Bridle Path, which is also the name of one of its streets. None other than ex-con Conrad Black has, or had, a giant house there.

Other smaller, cities also have streets they call The Bridle Path. For poorish areas, we could continue with Horse Apple Close, Manury Mews, etc. All suggestions welcome!

Lydia Sherman writes:

Hello from “The Reserve.” I have seen streets called “Valley View” without the Valley, and “Hill Acres” with no hill and no acre. Names are designed to give a false sense of land.

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