Update: Substation owners Ken Wallace, Dave West and Jeremy Rudo reached out to My Ballard with the following response:
“Substation’s owners were saddened to learn of the noise complaint from a local resident.
Because we want to be good neighbors, we’ve taken great steps to ensure that our noise levels fall within regulations based on the industrial zoning for our neighborhood. These steps include an extensive investment in soundproofing construction above and beyond typical measures for any venue. We have worked cooperatively with the Seattle police department. They have checked our facility inside and out during events and have always given us their approval. We have never received a citation or warning regarding our noise levels since we opened for operation.
We would also like to point out that we are located directly across the street from a large electrical substation that generates constant mechanical noise 24 hours a day.”
Original post: A group of Ballard neighbors are complaining about a new nightclub they say has been keeping them awake at night. According to a recent report from KIRO TV, the Ballard Substation at 645 NW 45th St. is causing some issues in the neighborhood, and people who live nearby have been issuing noise complaints.
The Substation is a 150-capacity club that had its grand opening earlier this month, promising to be a “mecca for all things underground.”
“As the city continues to lose small, independently owned and operated live music venues, a sense of community is what Substation’s owners, employees and talent buyer want to bring to the club,” graphic artist and promoter TBASA said in a recent statement.
However, that “sense of community” isn’t a shared feeling by Substation’s neighbors: “I don’t know how to describe how painful the sound is, but it won’t go away,” resident Jennie Carucci told KIRO. She said she’s called the police to complain about the noise, but so far, it hasn’t made a difference.
Detective Patrick Michaud from Seattle Police says they’ve received a couple complaints from the area in the last month, but that it’s unlikely they’ll take action unless numerous complaints are made. Even then, enforcing noise ordinances isn’t a clear-cut process. Detective Michaud says oftentimes police will try to resolve noise complaints on the spot. Technically, sound shouldn’t travel into other buildings past 10 p.m. in residential areas, he said.
My Ballard reached out to the owners of the Substation for comment, but haven’t yet received a reply.
Photo courtesy the Ballard Substation
