Subject: PM Lounge – Hearing for Noise Code Violation
Tuesday, June 26th and Wednesday, June 27th at 9:30am
111 Centre St. Room 949 NY, NY 10013 / Judge Stallman / NYC Civil Court

Dear Neighbors,

My husband and I and two young children (Lucas, 6 and Juliette, 3) moved into unit 1A at 838 Greenwich St. right after our honeymoon in October, 2006. Our unit is directly adjacent to the PM Lounge, and our lives have been a nightmare since the first day we moved into our home.

Despite working in good faith with the club to find a permanent solution to the noise problem, in our opinion, the owners and managers of the PM Lounge failed to adequately respond. During December, we turned to the court system, seeking an injunction to stop the club from operating in an unlawful manner. We also hired an acoustical expert, who found the club in excess of the New York Noise Code on all nine occasions he took readings in our unit, sometimes as much as 4 TIMES ABOVE THE LEGAL MAXIMUM. The club’s actions and the ensuing legal battle have taken a major emotional and financial toll on our family. In fact, we have been forced to seek refuge at hotel rooms on over 40 occasions.

The principals of the PM Lounge are well aware of this problem, which has plagued 838 Greenwich St., as well as dwellings on Horatio St., for years. Through our painstaking efforts and legal action, the club finally entered into a stipulation during March 2007 which provides that the PM LOUNGE WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PLAYING AMPLIFIED OR LIVE MUSIC if we show that they have violated the NY Noise Code again. We believe such violation has occurred.

Judge Stallman will hear our case on Tuesday, June 26th and Wednesday, June 27th, at 9:30 am at 111 Centre St. Room 949. We believe the presence of additional concerned parties will help the judge understand the severity of the problem. Your attendance is appreciated and will hopefully result in the increased enjoyment of your unit and the overall health of our building and neighborhood. Please feel free to e-mail any comments or questions to skelley13@yahoo.com or call (917) 319-6994.

Regards,
Suzanne Kelley & Ross Henderson

For more about the community’s history with PM Lounge, please click “PM Lounge” at the bottom of this article.

Via Bruce Solomon:

Many of us living on the northern side of Horatio St. adjacent to the Meatpacking district would have been disturbed by the loud dance music coming from the building at 60 Gansevoort St. last April 19. This event did not end until nearly 2 in the morning. When I went there to complain, about midnight, I was amazed to see hundreds of people dancing or waiting to enter what is normally a disused building.

I wanted to know how hundreds of people would have known of this event at a building that is vacant most of the time. By Googling “60 Gansevoort St.” on the internet, I found the web site of the organizers of the event. They advertised in a large poster-like web page that read,

“Wednesday,April 19, 2006; 60 Gansevoort Street, OPEN BAR ALL NIGHT LONG; Doors at 9:00pm. 21+, $15 Donation Req.”

They listed a number of bands to provide live music, and said the presenter is Vacancy Records, Brion Isaacs and Franco V. They also said in another part of their site that they have finally found a place for April 19, after being kicked out of one place by the fire department, and another by the police. No mention of why, or whether they’ll return. You can access them at www.shindignyc.com.

A more useful web site lists all open bars for the week, including the one at 60 Gansevoort during the week it happened. This web site is: www.myopenbar.com. This is the site that would be most useful to monitor from week to week, as we could then know when an event will take place at 60 Gansevoort BEFORE it happens, and alert the police accordingly. The organizers themselves are advertising sale of drinks, though under cover of demanding a donation and then providing drinks, as well as dancing to live music. The use of “open bars” appears to be a means of avoiding the need for liquor and cabaret licenses, and thus “open bars” are popular with underground party organizers. Interestingly, there is a complaint from one dissatisfied customer who thought the $15 was too much for what was offered.

We may feel awkward about bookmarking websites for open bars and clubs, but we need to do what we can to end the activities they advertise when they affect our peace and well-being, not to mention sleep.
Bruce Solomon
77 Horatio St.

However, the very same night and subsequently, the club has continued to blast their music, which, even with windows closed this time of year, drifts over to Horatio Street.

Jon says he has alerted DEP and asks that we continue to call 311, as those logs go to the Sixth Precinct and DEP.

Also, the Sixth Precinct Cabaret Patrol has been very vigliant about Rhone and has issued what Detective Singer called “numerous summons.”

We were hoping the Meatpacking District Committee would also help, not only with Rhone but now also with Meet blasting music and PM being equally inconsiderate after a period of being very cooperative.

From Jonathan Prosnit, Senator Duane’s office:

Just got off the phone with DEP. They said they will flag [RHONE] 63 Gansevoort Street and send another inspector out. ‘

They said that the amount of call volume to 311 does help get inspectors out.

All best, and thanks for your efforts,
Jon

Thursday, June 30th
6:30pm
Our Lady of Pompeii
(25 Carmine Street)

Read more about the event.
Link to Tom Duane’s Forum listings

Thursday, June 30th
6:30pm
Our Lady of Pompeii
(25 Carmine Street)

If you came to the last one, you know that Tom keeps things moving along in a lively manner (he’s got a great sense of humor), and you walk away feeling like you were heard and gave valuable input, but you were not bored by the affair. Which is really impressive. Plus, a lot of concrete actions came out of that meeting. Plus, we all asked about the 500′ rule, and he (his office) took the time to mail us the relevant legal language. Thanks guys! So don’t miss this one – I know a lot of us are full of thoughts on bars and nightlife in this hood!
Link to Tom Duane’s Forum listings