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ClarkFable t1_jbu2nyx wrote

Feels they could have brokered some sort of compromise, like ending events earlier, and or putting up more sound barriers.

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onerandomtask t1_jbu3wrx wrote

Was just talking to the Bow Market guys about this place a couple weeks ago. Sucks that there was no compromise.

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stannenb t1_jbu80sl wrote

“I moved to the heart of Central Square for the peace and quiet,” said one resident pleased the Zoning Board’s vote. /s

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blackdynomitesnewbag t1_jbuqhyo wrote

The city council has the power to change this. Email them at council@cambridgema.gov

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unfeatheredbird t1_jbuskf6 wrote

That really sucks! I lived in Central for almost 20 years. Was psyched to see Starlight Square emerge even though I’d recently moved away. A real shame about it’s dismantling.

I had neighbors who would always complain about random low-key, you-live-in-the-city-so-you-should-expect-this noise. Maybe unpopular opinion, but those types of people need to find another place to live outside of a bustling urban neighborhood.

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AMWJ t1_jbvbynv wrote

Replying to PunishedDommyMommy (#2,209,974)

I get that, but I don't think it falls on residents to figure out how to provide a noise-proof community. This is on the zoning board, and on Starlight for not handling those inevitable concerns from the very beginning.

−3

PunishedDommyMommy t1_jbvd8ef wrote

Replying to AMWJ (#2,211,389)

> noise-proof community

How can you possibly expect to live in a noise proof community in Central Square? In any major US metropolis for that matter? That's an absurd bar to reach.

They repeatedly reached out to neighbors directly to ameliorate the issues as much as possible though:

> Through dialogue, we would be able to better understand what those one-on-one fixes might be,” Monestime told the board. Though his organization had reached out to neighbors to make these assessments, “no one has taken us up on it.”

What more do you want from them? Noise reduction strategies would be a one-on-one fix. Whether it's better windows for one apartment, better insulation for another, etc.

Events also ended at 9pm and earlier on some days.

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AMWJ t1_jbvjgsx wrote

Replying to PunishedDommyMommy (#2,211,441)

I didn't mean fully noise-proof, but noise-reduction to what the levels were before Starlight opened.

What more do I want? In addition to the one-on-one fixes, they mention some structural solutions, like barriers, that I wanted them to consider proactively, rather than now that they were being shut down.

And, while I understand they did everything they could do to reach out for one-on-one repairs, I can also sympathize with a resident who doesn't want to engage with the institution that made their living space louder: if my next door neighbor started playing drums throughout the day, I'd be skeptical of their attempted solution of "thicker doors", and be more in favor of "stop playing drums".

The Starlight should've reached out to the building owners, and the city, proactively before these noise concerns started. Maybe they did, but the article's quote makes it sound otherwise.

−5

some1saveusnow t1_jbw1dnm wrote

Replying to AMWJ (#2,211,709)

You’re lucky this is only the Cambridge sub or else you’d be -35 by now. Reddit is super anti-NIMBY. You make good points, and I’m someone that enjoyed Starlight. But yes they obvi aren’t getting that noise down to at or below starlight levels, and for that poster to suggest that residents who may have been there before have to just deal with it cause “that’s what central square is”, don’t understand how residential neighborhood politics work, or local politics in general. I mean, half of Reddit doesn’t either. In the city subs it’s like 75%

−7

PunishedDommyMommy t1_jbwyy37 wrote

Replying to some1saveusnow (#2,212,380)

> don't understand how residential neighborhood politics work, or local politics in general.

Bemoaning the extreme NIMBYism in Massachusetts does not indicate anything about my understanding of local politics. Believe it or not local politics takes many forms, and I believe Cambridge and Boston in general get it wrong, both structurally and on many individual issues.

I am also not telling them to "deal with it". I'm asking them to engage in good faith with the offers put forth by organizers to mitigate noise issues.

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some1saveusnow t1_jbxwmqd wrote

Replying to some1saveusnow (#2,212,500)

An urban area is the region surrounding a city. Most inhabitants of urban areas have nonagricultural jobs. Urban areas are very developed, meaning there is a density of human structures such as houses, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and railways. "Urban area" can refer to towns, cities, and suburbs.Jan 4, 2023

You guys are right, the downvotes have ruled accordingly. I’ll back down

4

destroy_the_wealthy t1_jbyzsqv wrote

Replying to stannenb (#2,209,892)

Mem drive was closed down to pedestrians today too

Thanks fuckin Townie boomers for depriving everyone. It was a beautiful day and the sidewalks were packed with everyone who would rather be on memorial drive rollerblading, skating, taking their kids out but no we had to accommodate some fucking suburbanites because we have geriatric assholes in Cambridge clinging on to power

There were probably 10 cars at a time on the whole thing

This place can’t do anything right, what a sterile hellhole MA is

5

cos t1_jc2zql2 wrote

Replying to blackdynomitesnewbag (#2,210,560)

Emailed them, and also exhorted them to fire those zoning board members who voted against renewing. I don't think there's even the smallest shred of excuse for those members to have any role in Cambridge city government, and even if the city council manages to overrule this, I'll be furious if any of those members who voted against Starlight remain on the board.

4

cos t1_jc31cen wrote

Replying to blackdynomitesnewbag (#2,210,560)

> council@cambridgema.gov

In addition to that, I believe the Board of Zoning Appeals is part of the Inspectional Services Department, so send them some feedback via https://www.cambridgema.gov/inspection/contactforms/inspectionalservices - I don't know who receives and routes those messages, it may not be a board of zoning appeals member, but just make it clear to them how you feel about the BZA decision.

1

MarcGov51 t1_jc31gmf wrote

Replying to cos (#2,221,648)

The Council doesn't have the authority to appoint or remove BZA members. That lies with the City Manager. The Council recently approved paying stipends in hopes of attracting a more diverse pool of applicants to our boards and commissions. This is also the group that voted down 100% affordable housing, passive house, transit oriented building because they thought 9 stories was too tall on Mass Ave.

5

IntelligentCicada363 t1_jc4w7ih wrote

Replying to MarcGov51 (#2,221,716)

The stipends make it slightly more tempting, but many of us younger folk work hard all day and have families to take care of in those hours outside of work. The system is so perversely set up as to be depressing.

The city council can not appoint or remove them, but it does have the ability to make these people useless by reforming the zoning code.

3

theferrit32 t1_jd082ir wrote

Replying to MarcGov51 (#2,221,716)

One of my questions would be about why we have such a weak city council? I feel like in the past year I've learned that they have very limited authority over the police department and over the zoning board. Why is this the case? Why don't they have more direct authority to set policies that those agencies have to follow? The zoning board especially seems like something that should be completely controlled by the city council. I don't think it should be an Independent agency, their job is just to apply the zoning code and variance criteria to permit applications.

1