Brianne's Latest: Let's Soundproof Buildings Better Instead of Dealing with Public Noise Nuisances

[Anonymous]

Our girl Brianne Nadeau is at it again. Stems from the "controversy" last year when residents at the tony Shay apartments in Shaw started complaining about the music blasting out of the cell phone store at 7th and Florida. Brianne's solution? Let's drive the cost of construction even higher but instituting soundproofing standards, which incidentally won't have any impact on existing row homes and buildings. Aim is to protect antisocial public behavior like people blasting music to the nuisance of the neighborhood, all in the name of "protecting culture." Brianne at her finest. Can someone PLEASE primary her?

https://s26552.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/HarmoniousLivingActAmemndmentPressRelease-MusicStakeholders3-25-21.pdf

[Anonymous]

I think requiring more sound proof building construction is a great idea, street music playing or no.

I say this as a white person who finds stuff like the cell phone outdoor music blasting annoying (though I would never complain in person because I grew up in DC and know better to move to a black neighborhood and then complain about go go music playing).

But haven’t you noticed that old, pre World War II construction buildings are usually way quieter than the new crap going out now? Absolutely it would be better for the new buildings to be built better, with better sound proofing. Not just to block out music but also traffic, siren, mechanical noise like AC vents, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think requiring more sound proof building construction is a great idea, street music playing or no.

I say this as a white person who finds stuff like the cell phone outdoor music blasting annoying (though I would never complain in person because I grew up in DC and know better to move to a black neighborhood and then complain about go go music playing).

But haven’t you noticed that old, pre World War II construction buildings are usually way quieter than the new crap going out now? Absolutely it would be better for the new buildings to be built better, with better sound proofing. Not just to block out music but also traffic, siren, mechanical noise like AC vents, etc.

This has nothing to do with go go. It have everything to do with antisocial behavior that is a detriment to the rights of all residents to peacefully enjoy their neighborhoods, and yes, that is possible to do in a city. I don't care if it's go go, classical, or Carrie Underwood...I don't want people blasting music so loud on my street to the point it is a public nuisance.

[Anonymous]

If I lived in DC I’d install Peavy concert amps on my roof and play go-go all night long just to irritate dcums

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think requiring more sound proof building construction is a great idea, street music playing or no.

I say this as a white person who finds stuff like the cell phone outdoor music blasting annoying (though I would never complain in person because I grew up in DC and know better to move to a black neighborhood and then complain about go go music playing).

But haven’t you noticed that old, pre World War II construction buildings are usually way quieter than the new crap going out now? Absolutely it would be better for the new buildings to be built better, with better sound proofing. Not just to block out music but also traffic, siren, mechanical noise like AC vents, etc.

Absolutely.

I lived in an early 50s brick box garden apartment. We rarely heard neighbors. Meanwhile my friend and neighbor bought a fancy, newly built condo and had a major blowout with her neighbors over her baby crying. Increase building standards. All the way.

[Anonymous]

Brianne is running for a third term so she’ll be advocating for everything that speaks to her base to make you forget that she’s completely ineffective as a council member.

She was removed from the housing committee.

What does that tell you?

[Anonymous]

Need to deal with base. Base is the problem child here. Base travels through even the best sound insulated walls. There needs to be stricter rules on how much base is acceptable.

All sound should also be legislated. People should be able to sit in their backyard without some noisy neighbors blasting their music non stop.

[Anonymous]

Better soundproofing is a great idea. Why does OP want people calling the cops on their neighbors unnecessarily?

People also need to just give and take. I *hate* outdoor music. My neighbor likes it and plays it all summer. I don't say boo about it because the songs are family appropriate and it turns off at sunset. Could be a lot worse and still in the letter of the law! Neighbor probably doesn't love my DD loudly announcing every thought or joke in her head but that's how it goes unless you live on multiple acres.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better soundproofing is a great idea. Why does OP want people calling the cops on their neighbors unnecessarily?

People also need to just give and take. I *hate* outdoor music. My neighbor likes it and plays it all summer. I don't say boo about it because the songs are family appropriate and it turns off at sunset. Could be a lot worse and still in the letter of the law! Neighbor probably doesn't love my DD loudly announcing every thought or joke in her head but that's how it goes unless you live on multiple acres.

Ah that really made me laugh. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Here we go again...

I personally love the music at that corner. Not necessarily the go-go itself, just the overall atmosphere. It's festive. Part of the bustling city life. But, I grew up here so maybe it's an acquired taste. But, it was here first!

[Anonymous]

1) Raising the bar for developers' soundproofing obligations is probably a good idea in general. But that would only help to bring new buildings a little closer to the standards of the old buildings. I live in an old building with wonderfully thick walls, but I still hear plenty of street noise and amplified music that's often performed outdoors a block away. So,

2) I have a hard time believing that better insulation would make bucket drumming and such actually quiet enough that it doesn't disturb residents in their homes or workers in their offices.

3) It isn't necessarily accurate to say that gogo or even the black community was "there first" in DC. That's more true in some neighborhoods than others, and it generally assumes history began around 1950 or so. But it didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Raising the bar for developers' soundproofing obligations is probably a good idea in general. But that would only help to bring new buildings a little closer to the standards of the old buildings. I live in an old building with wonderfully thick walls, but I still hear plenty of street noise and amplified music that's often performed outdoors a block away. So,

2) I have a hard time believing that better insulation would make bucket drumming and such actually quiet enough that it doesn't disturb residents in their homes or workers in their offices.

3) It isn't necessarily accurate to say that gogo or even the black community was "there first" in DC. That's more true in some neighborhoods than others, and it generally assumes history began around 1950 or so. But it didn't.

Fair enough. But it was definitely there before OP, I'd bet.

[Anonymous]

Dunno. The individual bucket drummers may be younger than any of our tenures in DC. The "here first" argument gets awfully flimsy in a city that has actually seen plenty of demographic change across its whole inhabited history.

[Anonymous]

How about you do away with mixed-use development? There is a reason for residential neighborhoods away from commercial development.

[Anonymous]

Anytime Nadeau is involved you can bet she's giving away the store. She likes to talk about housing and yet she takes more contributions from developers than any other candidate.