Doesn't seem that efficient, actually. If blocks were numbered in some straightforward sequence and house numbers were, say, given as clockwise from the north-west corner instead of age of construction, that'd be reasonably efficient.

Look at the map in the linked article - if you go down from block 29, you hit 39. Go further, you hit 40 - or the un-numbered block between 29 and 41.

Given arbitrary block numbers and arbitrary street names, finding a street and moving along it to the desired address seems to be an easier task than locating a block and then trying all the buildings in it.