My OperaSaturday Night Party
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 6:27:39 PM
The Whitman, 930 M Street, NW, had a party last Saturday night.
From a neighbor across the street:
Here is my message to Linda Argo, Director, DCRA - sent through their webpage this morning.
Ed
Ms. Argo,
This past Saturday night (7/19/2008) a private event at the Whitman Condo, 910 M Street NW turned into an assault on hundreds of residents on the 900 block of M Street and beyond. This is a residential block that includes several hundred residences - condos, apartments, and single family homes. The private event included activities that exceeded our expectations and probably a number of ordinances regarding parking, noise, and blocking traffic flow among others.
In this neighborhood where every parking space is at a premium there were DC government issued no parking signs blocking 8 spaces - these 8 spaces and several other sections of intersecting alleys were used for valet parking operations. I took photos of this and would be glad to share them. The valet contractor, U Street Parking (202) 265-0010 also used public sidewalk areas for their parking service. Even big events in commercial districts don't have such a large and disruptive impact on their immediate vicinities when they host events.
Many residents of the Whitman Condo themselves were adversely affected by the private use of public space for a commercial parking operation, but also by the pounding noise that came from a rooftop deck party -- attributed to be related to some MTV rapper's promotion (a blog from residents of the building desribe the event and responsible parties - http://thewhitmandc.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
The noise was uncontrolled and the bass sounds shook our windows and had our door knockers pounding in sympathy to the pulses. The noise was at a high level from about 7 pm until 11 pm. The sound penetrated our homes and neighbors with small children described how they couldn't get away from the pounding sound. Our many 4-legged friends were also clearly distressed - they cowered and shook from the incessant pounding.
Can you or someone on your staff find out if and how permits for use and abuse of public space and noise was handled by DCRA? This was a planned event on a commercial nightclub scale and not an accidental outcome of a normal residential party. I am not critical of social events and enjoy hosting friends and family myself. However, I am interested in protecting our neighborhood's reputation as a nice place to live and enjoy the best of live in DC.
Thanks,
Ed Horvath
DC resident and taxpayer
And his message to the editor:
We have many nice neighbors who've moved into to the Whitman Condo and some inconsiderate assholes who proved how fast you can lower the quality of life for hundreds of other residents in that condo and surrounding homes. Last night, Saturday, July 19 was a painful experience for many of us. I just did a quick search and found a Whitman Condo Blog that describes last night's debacle. -
http://thewhitmandc.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
The blasting bass beats from outdoors speakers shook and permeated our homes across the street. The low frequency beat shook our doors strong enough to have the knockers and handles shaking. From when we arrived home at about 6:30 until 11:00 pm the entire neighborhood shook. Adults, children, and pets were distressed by the blasting pulse. Car alarms were set off, and drivers trying to get through M Street and Blagden Alley honked their horns in response to the blocked and congested traffic caused by vehicles associated with this event. Parents walking with their children held them close and our prized four-legged friends cowered and were clearly uncomfortable.
I did call Lt. Mike Smith who said he'd send someone to check out what was going on. He said he knew there was some event planned. Blocking of 8 parking spaces on the 900 block of M Street for a valet service seems excessive - I'll check with DCRA to inquire about what type(s) of permits were issued. While the signs that were posted for "no parking" due to the event looked like DC government issue, the use to block off so many parking spaces on an already congested residential block seems inconsistent public space permits restrictions that I've encountered. I doubt that they had a permit for the noise level or for the operation of the Whtiman rooftop as a nightclub.
We've worked with the convention center and neighboring bars and restaurants to avoid these very types of adverse impacts that we experienced Saturday night. Let this be the first and last time we experience something like this from our neighbors.
Ed
From a neighbor across the street:
Here is my message to Linda Argo, Director, DCRA - sent through their webpage this morning.
Ed
Ms. Argo,
This past Saturday night (7/19/2008) a private event at the Whitman Condo, 910 M Street NW turned into an assault on hundreds of residents on the 900 block of M Street and beyond. This is a residential block that includes several hundred residences - condos, apartments, and single family homes. The private event included activities that exceeded our expectations and probably a number of ordinances regarding parking, noise, and blocking traffic flow among others.
In this neighborhood where every parking space is at a premium there were DC government issued no parking signs blocking 8 spaces - these 8 spaces and several other sections of intersecting alleys were used for valet parking operations. I took photos of this and would be glad to share them. The valet contractor, U Street Parking (202) 265-0010 also used public sidewalk areas for their parking service. Even big events in commercial districts don't have such a large and disruptive impact on their immediate vicinities when they host events.
Many residents of the Whitman Condo themselves were adversely affected by the private use of public space for a commercial parking operation, but also by the pounding noise that came from a rooftop deck party -- attributed to be related to some MTV rapper's promotion (a blog from residents of the building desribe the event and responsible parties - http://thewhitmandc.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
The noise was uncontrolled and the bass sounds shook our windows and had our door knockers pounding in sympathy to the pulses. The noise was at a high level from about 7 pm until 11 pm. The sound penetrated our homes and neighbors with small children described how they couldn't get away from the pounding sound. Our many 4-legged friends were also clearly distressed - they cowered and shook from the incessant pounding.
Can you or someone on your staff find out if and how permits for use and abuse of public space and noise was handled by DCRA? This was a planned event on a commercial nightclub scale and not an accidental outcome of a normal residential party. I am not critical of social events and enjoy hosting friends and family myself. However, I am interested in protecting our neighborhood's reputation as a nice place to live and enjoy the best of live in DC.
Thanks,
Ed Horvath
DC resident and taxpayer
And his message to the editor:
We have many nice neighbors who've moved into to the Whitman Condo and some inconsiderate assholes who proved how fast you can lower the quality of life for hundreds of other residents in that condo and surrounding homes. Last night, Saturday, July 19 was a painful experience for many of us. I just did a quick search and found a Whitman Condo Blog that describes last night's debacle. -
http://thewhitmandc.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
The blasting bass beats from outdoors speakers shook and permeated our homes across the street. The low frequency beat shook our doors strong enough to have the knockers and handles shaking. From when we arrived home at about 6:30 until 11:00 pm the entire neighborhood shook. Adults, children, and pets were distressed by the blasting pulse. Car alarms were set off, and drivers trying to get through M Street and Blagden Alley honked their horns in response to the blocked and congested traffic caused by vehicles associated with this event. Parents walking with their children held them close and our prized four-legged friends cowered and were clearly uncomfortable.
I did call Lt. Mike Smith who said he'd send someone to check out what was going on. He said he knew there was some event planned. Blocking of 8 parking spaces on the 900 block of M Street for a valet service seems excessive - I'll check with DCRA to inquire about what type(s) of permits were issued. While the signs that were posted for "no parking" due to the event looked like DC government issue, the use to block off so many parking spaces on an already congested residential block seems inconsistent public space permits restrictions that I've encountered. I doubt that they had a permit for the noise level or for the operation of the Whtiman rooftop as a nightclub.
We've worked with the convention center and neighboring bars and restaurants to avoid these very types of adverse impacts that we experienced Saturday night. Let this be the first and last time we experience something like this from our neighbors.
Ed
