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Noise irks Scottsdale W Hotel's neighbors
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STILL BUILDING: The W Hotel on East Camelback Road shown Aug. 8, 2008, in Scottsdale is still under construction.
Paul O'Neill, Tribune
Not all neighbors of the hip and trendy W Hotel are excited about its private grand opening event tonight.
Since its "soft opening" on Sept. 5, some residents living near the hotel said they have been upset about noise levels and what they believe are patrons parking and littering on their streets.
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A letter was distributed to nearby neighborhoods alerting residents about an outdoor band that will be playing at the hotel's private grand opening. The band is expected to play until midnight.
Scottsdale's special event committee issued a permit to hotel management after they agreed to send notifications of the event to nearby residents. The committee also required the hotel set up its stage to face south, away from residential communities.
The stage will also have a backdrop, which will help deflect the noise, said Robin Meinhart, city downtown liaison.
"To have an outdoor nightclub project music into the neighborhood is just wrong," said Bill Crawford, a resident who lives north of the hotel.
Crawford said he received the hotel's letter 48 hours prior to the event.
Scottsdale has a nuisance ordinance that requires live music performances to stop at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays, and 11 p.m. every other day.
Somer Palmquist, operations manager for the hotel, said she has not received any complaints from residents about the upcoming event or about noise levels.
"I can't sleep at night and I have to be at my business at 6 a.m. every day except Sunday," said Crawford, a fitness club owner and two-time former political candidate in Scottsdale.
Residents are also upset about what they say are hotel patrons parking and littering in their neighborhoods.
"When the bass drum thumps it vibrates through my entire house," Scottsdale resident Bill Klotz said. "There's not enough parking at the hotel, so they like to park on my block."
City officials said they have heard about parking complaints, and are looking into installing three-hour restricted parking on nearby streets.
"We're looking into issues relating to the parking in that area," said Michelle Korf, acting executive director of the city's Downtown Group.
According to Palmquist, more live music events will be held at the hotel.
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