A guy on the street told me it's being opened by the Johnson Deli across the street (the one precariously hanging into the vacant Oro II lot).

But then I asked the guy at the register inside and he said it's not the same people. So, who knows.

Posted by: tekniskakustik at October 5, 2009 2:03 PM in response to Streetlevel: Johnson Gourmet Deli

Casement windows (like these) are far better for sound insulation than a double-hung window.

Posted by: tekniskakustik at July 30, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Development Watch: Windows for Sackett

Oops, I meant 84th.

Posted by: tekniskakustik at June 24, 2009 11:06 AM in response to Development Watch: 277 Gold Street

This place is directly across Tillary St from the 68th Precinct. There are cops on this block 24 hours a day.

Posted by: tekniskakustik at June 24, 2009 11:04 AM in response to Development Watch: 277 Gold Street

"No word on whether Barclay's will be able to pay $800,000 upfront and then take 15 years to pay the rest."

The Times article mentions that the $4M will be paid "$200,000 a year for the next 20 years"

Posted by: tekniskakustik at June 24, 2009 10:20 AM in response to More Naming Rights for Barclay's

Why is it no longer sensible to pay down the principal?

Posted by: tekniskakustik at May 22, 2009 9:44 AM in response to Chase Turns Off Our Spigot—For Now at Least

@Turtlejam19: What you want is a "sound level meter". You can buy one for less than $50 at Radio Shack. Make sure you set the meter to measure A-weighted decibels or dBA.

Measure the noise with the HVAC unit running, from a point 3' interior of your wide-open window. Also take the same reading when the HVAC unit is off. If the unit is louder than 42 dBA, and is also at least 2-3 dBA louder than the sound level when the HVAC unit is off, the unit is likely in violation and the DEP (if called) would issue a citation on the spot.

For reference, the code section regulating noise from HVAC equipment is NYC Noise Control Code §24-227, "Circulation Devices".

Posted by: tekniskakustik at May 4, 2009 1:45 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

Correction -- I meant to say that the code requirement is 42 dBA. If DEP measures 43 dBA, a citation is unlikely.

Posted by: tekniskakustik at May 4, 2009 11:25 AM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

The DEP normally doesn't even contact the offender unless they find a noise violation, at which point they serve the business with an ECB summons (with a fine and hearing info -- basically like a parking ticket but for noise). The restaurant may have heard about the complaint offhand, but there is no official notification until a violation is found in person by a DEP inspector.

Having seen many of these violation notices, I can say that they never list the name or specific address of the complainant. (Sometimes this can make it difficult for the offender to correct the problem.)

Also, the current NYC Noise Control Code limit for air conditioning equipment is 43 dBA measured at 3' within an open dwelling window. Typically, the AC noise must exceed this amount, as well as exceeding the ambient noise (measured with the AC off) by a few dB, before they will issue a citation.

Posted by: tekniskakustik at May 4, 2009 11:21 AM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

Many of the above suggestions will have some benefit, and the effective treatments generally address the concepts of decoupling (physical separation between their wall and yours) and adding mass (heavy materials such as wallboard) to the wall. (An unfortunate consequence: effective treatments are usually out of the question in a rental.)

However, the fundamental structure of the building has a tremendous impact on whether any of this will help (and justify the cost and effort). This is especially the case with low-frequency (bass) sounds, which travel freely through all but the heaviest building elements.

If you live in a typical Ft Greene walkup, with wood joists in the floor and ceiling, you could build a four-foot-thick concrete wall between you and your neighbors, and still hear a great deal of the bass that you do now. This is because sound is able to "flank" or circumvent the wall, passing through the light floor and ceiling structures.

Because the floor, ceiling, and building structure must be addressed in addition to the wall, resolving this sort of problem with construction can be onerous. Addressing the source (your neighbor and/or his speakers) will be far more effective.

You should also know that the NYC Building Code requires a minimum standard for sound insulation between dwellings (a rating of STC-50, generally a 4-layer sheetrock wall with insulation). They don't enforce this post-construction (like the DEP does for outdoor noise), but if you had the insulation value documented and it was deficient, it would give you some real teeth to have someone else improve the situation.

Posted by: tekniskakustik at May 1, 2009 10:58 AM in response to soundproofing