Hi, Need advice. We have lived in the courthouse neighborhood for over twenty years. Yes, we realize its a rapidly changing urban area. We both grew up in cities – my partner in NYC and me in Beijing so we are use to noise but . . .
Velocity 5 at Courthouse metro has an outdoor bar yards from our bldg. The place seems to attract a real rough bar crowd – definitely not anyone who lives around these parts. Also a group of guys hang out there each night who appear to also work there. They seem to be some of the loudest guys out there and really raise the volume.
This place has outddor televisions with sports and music on. Residents have to call most every about them turning off the volume at 10 pm. Even with the sound off the tv is still on and patrons and workers are out there screaming as games are on. At closing at 2 am, the workers are banging things around, screaming, peeing in the flower holders and on the sidewalks. To make matters worse, the bar appears to have a police monitor so anytime residents call the cops, they are alerted and quiet down for a little while but its starts up again. Residents have called the police numerous times, but they don't seem very interested. The bar has been fined once for having outdoor music without a permit.
This outdoor bar should never have been allowed this close to a residence. We don't mind if they have tables out there and serve drinks/food but not a bar. The outdoor bar is in the courtyard and under a ceiling and echos back to our bldg. Have also tried to get the Arlington Co. Board members involved – what a joke. They never return calls or emails. Velocity 5 just hangs up on us if we call and complain. Someone said the owner has deep pockets. Anyone know who owns Velocity 5?
The pizza restaurant around the corner (can't think of the name) has outdoor seating and music but its a different crowd – no screaming drunks all night. And they don't have an outdoor bar.
Any recommendations on dealing with this situation? We rarely get to sleep before 2 am each night. And the long term tile project in the courtyard then gets us up bright and early at 7 am with drilling.
Help! 
ps – english is not my first language – forgive grammar.
I live at Station Square and Cava Mezze opened outdoor seating in the courtyard of the complex last summer. The noise isn't quite as bad as you're describing since it isn't a bar setting, but the clanking glasses, silverware, and general chatter becomes quite loud since the building surrounds the patio on three sides and all the noise just echos over and over. It got to the point that it was just bothersome to sit on my balcony anymore. After a group of residents approached the owners about it, I was told the owners were very rude and in less that polite words told our group to “deal with it.” I, along with several other residents, have complained to the County Zoning office. They have the ability to review and revoke the outdoor seating permits. I'm not sure if it has done anything, but it seems like they at least have fewer tables out there now.
While I'm not positive, I believe noise ordinances still apply to bars. You could always try calling the police's non-emergency number and see if they'll respond to the issue (when it is happening).
redstang423 said:
I live at Station Square and Cava Mezze opened outdoor seating in the courtyard of the complex last summer. T
Do Station Square residents no longer have access to that courtyard? I always enjoyed going down there on weekends before Cava moved in and it was a pretty quiet and relaxing place with that fountain.
Williamsburg said:
redstang423 said:
I live at Station Square and Cava Mezze opened outdoor seating in the courtyard of the complex last summer. T
Do Station Square residents no longer have access to that courtyard? I always enjoyed going down there on weekends before Cava moved in and it was a pretty quiet and relaxing place with that fountain.
Station Square residents do still have access to the Courtyard, but Cava has seating rights up to the fountain, so there is a very small area that residents can still use and is “our” property. It was really a shame when we lost the grill down there.
I completely understand your frustration. There has been numerous complaints against Velocity 5. In case you are unaware, the county currently does NOT have a noise ordinance law in place. The last one was cancelled years ago and the county has still not put another one in place. I found this out because I called the police and although the officers were helpful and did their best, they couldn't issue a citation because there is NO law in place. My advice would be to attend the next County Board meeting and ask why the holdup and when we can expect a new ordiance is going to be put in place. Until that happens, there is nothing the police can do. I've found the County Board to be rather arrogant and unhelpful, so good luck with your inquiries.
1) Lawsuit
2) Plant dead fish in the flower boxes
3) Stink bombs
LP said:
Williamsburg said:
redstang423 said:
I live at Station Square and Cava Mezze opened outdoor seating in the courtyard of the complex last summer. T
Do Station Square residents no longer have access to that courtyard? I always enjoyed going down there on weekends before Cava moved in and it was a pretty quiet and relaxing place with that fountain.
Station Square residents do still have access to the Courtyard, but Cava has seating rights up to the fountain, so there is a very small area that residents can still use and is “our” property. It was really a shame when we lost the grill down there.
Agree 100%. When I purchased, I was actually told that it was “our” courtyard and the “free” grill was part of the amenities. It was a big selling point for me since I love grilling, so I was quite disappointed when about a month after I closed, it was gone to make room for Cava. I was told I could take legal action against the seller's realtor for misrepresenting the property, but that seems WAY overkill for something that in all likelihood wouldn't have swayed my decision to purchase anyway.
Anyway – Luke, let us know if you have success. Even simply approaching the owner and discussing the situation in a calm and collaborative way may yield you some good results.
JamesE said:
CW said:
1) Lawsuit
2) Plant dead fish in the flower boxes
3) Stink bombs
Flaming bag of poop
HERF gun directed at the audio equipment.
Enough already said:
I completely understand your frustration. There has been numerous complaints against Velocity 5. In case you are unaware, the county currently does NOT have a noise ordinance law in place. The last one was cancelled years ago and the county has still not put another one in place. I found this out because I called the police and although the officers were helpful and did their best, they couldn't issue a citation because there is NO law in place. My advice would be to attend the next County Board meeting and ask why the holdup and when we can expect a new ordiance is going to be put in place. Until that happens, there is nothing the police can do. I've found the County Board to be rather arrogant and unhelpful, so good luck with your inquiries.
I actually don't believe the information is correct. One of Westover Beer Garden's conditions for getting an outdoor seating permit just a couple months ago was to comply with Arlington County Noise Ordinance. Also, check out this PDF on Arlington County's website in the county code section about their noise ordinance.
Late June/early July it's going to be hotter than two rats screwing in a wool sock so no-one will be dining outside.
DC Humidity = Problem solved.
Nothing to add, except to say that your English is perfect.
CourthouseChris said:
JamesE said:
CW said:
1) Lawsuit
2) Plant dead fish in the flower boxes
3) Stink bombs
Flaming bag of poop
HERF gun directed at the audio equipment.
Also to consider a little sabotage to shut them down — organize some underage drinker traps; rats & dropping placement; no hot water; inadequate refrigeration; DUI traps for patrons; reports/rumors of food poisoning; reports/rumors of credit card fraud; reports/rumors of suspected gang activity;
—-and in reality – have you discussed this with Archstone ? If this is problem for all their residents at ACP, it seems like they would have deep enough pockets to get something done about it with the ARCO board and the business community ( Atrocity 5 land owners )
If you move further east, you will be able to hear the wind in the trees before you fall asleep each night. You might even have a backyard full of trees of your very own!
If you live above a metro stop, in an urban area, surrounded by bars and restaurants… I don't know what to tell you.
How long have you been living there?
