Annoying Billboards At 7th & H St Featured In The WaPo

I wonder if the folks in the residences above can sue. They are being denied the full use and enjoyment of their homes. Surely we can’t believe that any type of advertising goes. We should not be subjected to noise abuse just because we HAVE to pass that intersection to get to our mode of transportation. Shame on the developer. Shame on AT&T. I will not buy an AT&T product until they start respecting this community.

I gotta tell you. The developer intended to create a gathering point. How do you do that if you have something so annoying that it makes you try to get away from it as quickly as possible? I live in the neighborhood and cringe every time I pass that intersection.

Off the top of my head, I am not quite certain what cause of action a resident would successfully assert. However, there are a number that he or she could list in an initial complaint. Ultimately, if I were still a resident of that building, I would file a lawsuit in the hopes that tying the other side up in court blowing money to deal with my complaint would perhaps help them reconsider the sound issue.

I’m surprised there hasn’t been any vigilante action to take out the sound. But wait, we don’t know why it is malfunctioning…

.The article doesn’t even cover how the noise blasts you on the metro steps/escalators and that it is illegal to have the signs there.
The reason cable TV exists for me is not really movies, I can rent them or the one or two series it’s commercial free TV. This noise is insane. Unlike TV you can’t mute it. Do the advertisers feel that forced LOUD commercials will have us think favorably of them when we go to buy products? NOT! That greedy developer Herb Miller of Western Development and partners Akridge and that despicable Ward 2 council member Evans and that horror Chairman Vincent Gray should be forcibly subjected to those commercials’ the way we are. Don’t buy into Western Development and Akridge properties. Vote out Gray and Evans. They belong to the corrupt DC regime of Barry. Vote for change. I hear that Cary Silverman is running for Council in Ward 2; I for sure am voting for him. Evans earns $130,000.00 a year PLUS he works part-time for his law firm. He is out-of-touch with and doesn’t care about his constituents. Boycott AT&T.

unfortunately, every attorney in the building that might have standing would be conflicted out of suing the developer and/or AT&T by their respective firms.

I have not read the relevant DC statutes/regs/case law but is there a citizen suit provision under the DC noise pollution law? What about a common law nuisance claim (both as a public and private nuisance)?

I wonder if the same developers are in line for sweetheart deals to develop near the new ballpark? I doubt the District officials took these kinds of concerns (concerns of actual residents) into consideration. I don’t think the Washington Post has done a good job as civic watchdogs to make these concerns known to the greater public.

If someone stood outside the window of my home with a bullhorn and shouted 22 of 24 hours of every day, I think that person would be committing a crime. This is basically the same thing.

Talk about a way to kill re-sale values and marketability of the condos affected by the noise pollution.

I don’t have a problem with the video screens. But the blaring audio has got to go. There’s simply no need for it, and it’s extremely irritating and counter-productive. As the WaPo article states, even in Times Square they don’t have audio billboards.

After hearing these speakers in operation for a few months as a passer by (my dwelling is out of earshot), I have to say that they should be silenced for good. They add to the current noise levels and do not blend in as I bet the developer was hoping for. 7th and H is lively, festive at times, but it is not a 24-by-7 (or 22 out of 24-by-7) outdoor concert and neither its pedestrians nor its atmosphere should be treated that way.

For those that live in Gallery Place, what is the building manager doing to address the problem? I am sure she has heard a number of complaints at this point from residents, particularly those on the 7th street and the H street sides on floors 3-5.

Is she (or the BOD) doing anything to address this? What have affected residents been told about it? Surely this problem is not going unaddressed, and I would suspect that GP would have to address it after getting so many complaints.

Everyone — go to the Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at District Chophouse. We need to voice our concerns as a unified community about the noise pollution that has been inflicted on us and no other part of DC. Unless they wish to put these signs in every part of DC, they should not just victimize us. A Council Member will be there — let’s make sure he hears our concerns.

This is somewhat confusing because the city’s current noise ordinance already should eliminate this problem. The maximum decibel level in a commercial zone is 65 dB(A) during the day and 60dB(A) at night.

You can find them here:
http://www.dcra.dc.gov/dcra/lib/dcra/noiseregs.pdf

Of course, D.C. statute allows non-commercial speech to be blasted at unlimited volume anywhere in the city between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., but I wold believe these advertisements are classified as “commercial.”

Has anyone considered getting the police to come by with a decibel meter and measure the noise? Clubs in Adams Morgan have been fined for being too noisy.

I heard about this story on NPR this morning. I noticed that they were off during the commute to work. I didn’t look for the white block, as seen above.

From Jack “No Help at All” Evans: “[M]uch of downtown is modern and, as such, I don’t think the billboards are out of place there.

I welcome the transformation of the Penn Quarter neighborhood. It wasn’t too long ago that Chinatown was run down and dangerous. Now, it’s a vibrant, living downtown with commercial, retail and residential uses. There are eyes on the street 24/7. It’s not perfect and never will be but I would agree it’s much improved.

Regarding quality of life issues, my staff and I have been working to resolve complaints reported to us, mostly from residents, regarding noise and how the signage may be blocking light and sun.”

i feel so bad for the examiner & express paper distributors. Imagine having to listen to the billboards for hours & hours every day at the loudest spot!

Perhaps Ward 6 Councilman Wells can help? He is the one working on amplified speech legislation. not sure how far hes gotten…

The billboard industry strongly supports Jack Evans. And they make lots of money. Along with the developers…

Um, thanks, Jack Evans. How about we put up some loud AT&T billboards near your house in Georgetown.

Jack Evans lack of logic is astounding, but on par for a DC Councilperson.

Let’s see:

(1) Much of downtown is modern
(2) Because of (1), billboards are appropriate
(3) But, billboards do not exist in much of downtown. They only exist in one intersection of downtown. So, how is this an apples to apples comparison?

Darn…I thought the Washington Post article prompted the “developers” to shut off the screens. No such luck I see.

Who knows how to do an on-line petition — because I will absolutely sign one banning noisy billboards.

Would this be something to send in to Channel 4’s ask the mayor segment? I think the email is fenty@nbc4.com

Times Square was revitalized mostly because existing laws against panhandling, vagrancy, drug use and public intoxication were enforced. I would challenge the developer to focus on those issues to make this area vibrant rather than noisy signs that attract unruly teens but drive away other consumers.

2 days in a row… no noise eminating from the tvs during morning rush hour.

Speaking of signs, but not these signs, I noticed we have a nice new example of “Engrish” where Becky’s Cafe used to be. There is now a sign for a “Japanese Bat and Grill.” Or maybe its not Engrish…perhaps bat is a Japanese delicacy I was previously unaware of…

Peter, what existing anti-panhandling and anti-vagrancy laws are you proposing the developer focus on enforcing?

I think that sign meant “Cat” instead of “Bat.”

Actually I’m pretty sure that sign meant Bar, not Bat, not Cat.

If someone was yelling “help” while being mugged around that Metro exit, would anyone hear them over the sound of the ads????

While the rest of the country is busy banning billboards, we are accused of not being “modern” because we don’t want a beautiful, historic and newly revitalized part of town to be taken over by commercial interests.

The corner of 7th & H Sts NW is in the ANC SMD 2C03, represented by Doris Brooks,
ANC2C Chair and Treasurer
(202) 682-1633
612 Emmanuel Court NW, Suite 204, Washington DC 20001

See http://www.anc2c02.com/anc/commissioners.html

FWIW, Ms. Brooks appears to be politically allied with Mr. Evans, via mutual pal Leroy Thorpe. I doubt that the noise issue is on her radar screen, though.

The monthly ANC meeting is tomorrow 2/6 at 6:30PM at the Kennedy Rec. Center at 7th & O Sts. NW

See http://chappleanc.com/public/index.php/2008/01/31/february_anc2c_meeting_1

Ahhhh….ANC2C….A bastion of efficiency, democracy and effectiveness …..

(For those of you who are not aware, the DC Auditor has in the past investigated certain ANC2C representatives and chastised them for using ANC2C funds to support private organizations that they are a part of)

They say a Bar is not a Bat.
They say a Bar is not a Cat.
Could it be they meant a Hat?
Could you ever imagine that?
Some sense must be made of this dilemma.
If they are serving Bat they should provide an enema.
It clearly cannot be a Car and Grille.
So, it surely must be a Bar and Grille.
😛

If Brooks or Thorpe are involved, everyone might as well save their time and energy they would spend writing letters and get used to the sound.

#30: No…you really think it meant to say “Bar”???

This is just the latest example of our Council Member not putting neighborhoods first. You can read my thoughts on this issue at http://caryforcouncil.org/campaign/index.php?blog=9

*GASP* at the link above.

Could they get any more annoying? Yes! oh my Yes! The lights are so bright on the resolution now that there is an orange color reflection bouncing off CVS building and beamed into my living room and bedroom windows.

#40-

Consult a lawyer. Others already have.

wow nice job Cary!!!

the stupid billboards dont even work right. this afternoon all 3 were malfunctioning and displaying half images.

Could we all have a luddite moment and throw rocks at them? (said half tongue in cheek!)

Too bad all the thugs and low lifes who hang out on the corner of 7th and H don’t do something useful for the neighborhood and do what they do best by stealing the monitors.

I heart this blog.

I hate those billboards.

and I agree with #43.

I agree with 43 & 45