In response to my post/column about Jen and Paul moving from their gorgeous Prospect Park West mansion to Tribeca, I received this interesting email from a Park Slope resident, who is also selling a home. Reason: unbearable noise pollution.
I live on Fifth Street between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West and I am also putting our house on the market as Jen and Paul Bettany did, because of the unbearable noise pollution from the major air traffic that passes over our homes on route to LGA airport.
Since last summer there was a drastic change in all flight rotations and air traffic patterns that had a tremendous impacted on the quality of life for many Park Slope residents. Despite letters to politicians and FAA/ Port Authority to remedy the situation, we got no relief.
We approached Senator Schumer with several communications to his DC office and never got any reply. We saw him on TV waving a loaf of bread during congressional hearing to illustrate how much he cares about the middle class but so far he didn’t do a thing for the community he lives.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the reason why they are selling their beautiful house: they have two young kids and they stay home a lot and who wants to live with this nightmarish noise that starts at 5:30 AM and goes on till 01:00 the following morning.
I have found this all pretty surprising. I have lived on the park at 11th Street for close to thirty years–in a top floor apartment–and have never noticed aircraft noise. In addition, I have always loved spotting the park from a plane when flying into LaGuardia.
If you think comments on this site are rude, check out brownstoner Forum where there was a post on this issue. Not much sympathy, plenty of ridicule.
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/08/commerical_airp.php#comments
Fwiw, as a 7 year PS resident, I can’t say that I’ve been much bothered by aircraft noise, and I work at home, too. Now, those helicopters, can they be brought down?
We are working hard to improve our quality of life. Unfortunately there will always be an idiot who will observe the obvious, that “it’s not as bad as Flushing”. Of course it’s not. But it’s getting much worse. At the pace that air traffic is increasing in Brooklyn, it will feel like Flushing sooner than later. Park Slope and other Brooklyn residents are organizing to fight further deterioration. See http://airtrafficparkslope.org/ for more details.
the noise is indeed disturbing. to the person who says it’s not a problem, maybe you’re deaf. we already know you’re rude.
i just stayed in park slope for a week and was shocked at how loud the plane pollution is. i was reading with my feet propped on a coffee table, and the noise went right thru the table into my feet and legs. it’s more than noise, really;it has a palpable physical presence. :-(
Gimme a break. I grew up in Flushing right in the path of planes landing at LGA. Move to a farm if you can’t handle noise