Volume of Noise Complaints Goes Way Up

The rowdy drunken yahoos stumbling out of nightclubs on the Lower East Side and East Village have some residents nostalgic for the old days of pre-gentrified lawlessness. 47-year-old Frances Ayers, who lives at Rivington and Ludlow streets, tells the Post, "At least with the drug dealers there wasn't any noise." Since July 2007, when the city’s stricter noise code went into effect, complaints recorded by local community boards have boomed.

Between July 1st, 2007 and January 31st, 2008, Community Board 3, which covers the two neighborhoods plus Chinatown, documented 1,872 complaints about nightlife-related noise, the most in New York for that category. The total amount of griping for the area during that time period was 6,133, which includes complaints about other noises like construction, obstreperous neighbors, voices in head, etc. That’s second only to Community Board 12, which covers a much larger area, including Washington Heights.

The West Village came in second in the noise complaining department, while Williamsburg was #1 in Brooklyn bitching, racking up 1,072 noise complaints about bars and clubs – placing them #3 citywide! Williamsburg also had the most construction-noise complaints of any Brooklyn neighborhood, a grand total of 698. In Manhattan, Upper West Siders lead the construction complainers with 1,937. You can call 311 to complain about any noise except helicopters; direct those complaints to the Economic Development Corporation hotline at 212-619-5000.

Check out the Post's map of the noisiest neighborhoods, after the jump.

Photo: the idealist

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on March 10, 2008 10:30 AM

Comments [rss]

Gwinny

hey feelthebuzz: what about all the people who were living in that neighborhood BEFORE it was noisy? why should they have to leave just because people are rude assholes?

I live on the LES, but below Delancey - so my main noise problems are with the Chinese delivery trucks backing up and/or idling in front of my building at all hours of day and night.

malasagna

Just because this is New York doesn't mean we residents have to live with shitty reggaeton poured over our windows daily and drunken fratboys serenading the tenements at 3 AM.

JP Lynch

Ph: You're so tough and cool; a brave soul that makes a threat via comments section.

BMMDan

"This is the equivalent of putting iPod earphones where I live. I really hate the people who do that on the subway, because it isolates other people in such an classist way. This, I fear, will have the same effect."

I am confused. I'm isolating people I'd never talk to anyway because I enjoy a little Phil Collins on my commute to and from work? I'm an elitist because I can afford the luxury of portable music, complete with personal headphones? WTF? Seems that NYers just love to bitch in general...

BMMDan

"This is the equivalent of putting iPod earphones where I live. I really hate the people who do that on the subway, because it isolates other people in such an classist way. This, I fear, will have the same effect."

I am confused. I'm isolating people I'd never talk to anyway because I enjoy a little Phil Collins on my commute to and from work? I'm an elitist because I can afford the luxury of portable music, complete with personal headphones? WTF? Seems that NYers just love to bitch in general...

Politburo

"This is the equivalent of putting iPod earphones where I live. I really hate the people who do that on the subway, because it isolates other people in such an classist way. This, I fear, will have the same effect."

I don't think the analogy applies. You're going to put soundproofing windows in your apartment. Okay. So how is that like putting earphones on? Do you normally communicate with people by yelling through a closed window?

greekscholar

well we should just let the drug dealers back into the LES then. i liked it better in those too.

pik

oh no no no. the bar lives under me. i'm on the 2nd floor... more coffee please.

meowster

and ban honking (livery cabs that means you) and car alarms (out of towners that means you). seriously.

kittencrunchies

How do I complain about my ridiculously loud Puerto Rican neighbors?

famdoc

Ban idling vehicles on residential streets...particularly Fresh Direct trucks at 11 PM.

bluerain

I finally gave up. I live in the Financial District. I am now going to fork over about $10K for sound abatement in my apartment. If anyone is curious, go to citiquiet.com or cityproof.com.

This is the equivalent of putting iPod earphones where I live. I really hate the people who do that on the subway, because it isolates other people in such an classist way. This, I fear, will have the same effect.

bluerain

I finally gave up. I live in the Financial District. I am now going to fork over about $10K for sound abatement in my apartment. If anyone is curious, go to citiquiet.com or cityproof.com.

This is the equivalent of putting iPod earphones where I live. I really hate the people who do that on the subway, because it isolates other people in such an classist way. This, I fear, will have the same effect.

JP Lynch

feelthebuzz: Way to be ignorant. I love the attitude that because this is a city any type of behavior is ok and we should just surrender all civility and common decency because the only place these things exist is the burbs.

Sure, you should expect increased noise if you live over a bar but that doesn't mean that patrons can't show commom courtesy.

Snoopy

You live UNDER a bar? That must a nice quiet odor free apartment.

pik

this has alot to do with smokers being forced to stand outside. the bar crowd is still going to smoke, no matter what ban you enact. and when they're drunk, they're loud. i live under a bar. the summer is hell.

feelthebuzz

nothing irks me more than motherf*ckers complaining about noise in New York f*cking city!

Why would you move to Rivington and Ludlow if you want to be in a "quiet" area. Thats your own damn fault! This is Manhattan. If you want it to be quiet, move to the burbs you old fart!