Construction too loud on Clark St., neighbors charge
By Sarah Severson
New
construction is a common sight in the South Loop, and with it comes the
expected noise and annoyance to those living in and around it. Residents
living close to a highrise condo and retail development going up at 710 S.
Clark St. have suffered more than their share of disturbance, however. For
months, jarring noise and vibration have been constants as construction
workers have pounded 95-foot steel beams known as H-piles into the ground on
a daily basis from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. since the end of December.
The project, managed by Terrapin Group and constructed by the Walsh Group, originally called for using a much quieter and cheaper process of drilling rather than pounding the beams into the building’s foundation. The drilling method carried greater risk, though, so in the end the project was required to use H-piles. The City’s approval process relied on soil borings and dimension surveys to choose between the two methods.
“That area is built on a swamp, and when you excavate out, you take the potential of caving in,” said Rob Eshoo, vice president of construction at Terrapin Group. “The H-piles were more money, but design-wise and from the City’s perspective, it was less risky.”
The City requires a monitoring system, with sensors on the site, the street, and nearby properties to gauge vibration levels from the pounding. A company representative oversees the project on the site each day, so Terrapin is well aware of the noise and disruption.
“There is a double-edged sword of new development,” Eshoo said. “It’s a slight inconvenience at the time, but when everyone’s property values go up they don’t come thank us.”
Eshoo estimated pile pounding will finish in mid-April, weather permitting. Despite further construction, the noise level will plunge after the piles are in.
“We just want to get the beams in quickly,” he added. “Once it’s done everyone can appreciate and enjoy the amenities—the retail and the new homeowners will be an upside down the road for the neighborhood.”
The pounding’s inconvenience has been far more than “slight” for many residents who are home during the day. Carla Shortino lives at 124 W. Polk St., right next to the construction, and was home with her three-year-old and two-week-old baby when the pounding began. She ended up relocating to her sister’s house for five weeks because she could not tolerate the noise.
“My nerves were fried and I was freaked out that it was going to upset my kids,” she said. “I wanted to be home, but it was really traumatic for me. The building was shaking so bad, and you could feel the floor and building vibrate with every pound.”
When Shortino returned home to more pounding, friends who are away at work all day gave her their keys so she could stay at their homes during the day. While a relief, she still had to bundle her two young children up each morning and stay away from home all day.
“The first week of this, it was blizzarding and so awful,” she said. “I even called a lawyer to see if there was anything I could do, but he said I would probably be wasting my money. This situation really put a hardship on us.”
Another nearby resident, Tammy Sarver, a political science professor at Benedictine University, said she used to write from home on Fridays but has had to work at coffee shops since the pounding began.
“The pounding sounds like
someone has taken all of the pots and pans in the kitchen and is banging
them in my head,” Sarver said. “I can’t write when I hear clanging all day.”
Sarver is so tired of the construction noise she has decided to move.
“If this is going to continue to happen, I’m not staying—I’m moving where there is no room to build,” she said. “Luckily I can get out of here easier than other people here because I’m a renter.”
Martin Plummer, who lives in a building at Clark and Polk Streets, said he understands noise comes with new construction but is upset nevertheless.
“I hate nuisances, especially those that I don’t give my approval or consent to.” Plummer said. “I don’t remember anyone passing around a survey asking if I’d object. Within the scope of a mile of my building there are six major construction projects going on.”
Danny Scollan, a realtor who also lives in the area, said he faced challenges selling properties close to the construction project.
“It’s difficult because no one wants to move in with the prospect of that noise constantly right next to them,” he said. “The growth is good for real estate, but a lot of realtors think it’s too much and that there is no regulation to keep the noise to a minimum. Constant noise pounding for months on end can drive someone insane.”
Parson Brown is a film major at Columbia College who lives around the corner from the construction. He said he has to wear headphones to get anything done whiles at home during the day.
“Normally I’d like to sleep later, so the only positive thing is that the noise wakes me up,” Brown said. “Usually I have to blast music into my ears when I’m doing homework. For several months it’s been all day, every day.”
Susan Delhey is one resident who has taken action, writing letters to Terrapin Properties and contacting the City about her concerns. She has a one-year-old child who does not sleep during the day due to the pounding and then is up at night because her sleep pattern is thrown off.
“I’m surprised it passes the City’s noise decibel limit—I can’t believe the City hasn’t done something about this,” she said.
A representative from Terrapin replied to Delhey’s letters with sympathy but no action. Delhey has contacted 2nd Ward Alderman Madeleine Haithcock, who agreed an ordinance governing this type of noise is needed. She plans to talk to the Mayor about the situation, said the Alderman’s spokesperson Cynthia Young.
“It’s very disconcerting to say the least,” Young said.
For now, the project does abide by current rules stating construction should occur between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
“There’s not really anything the City would be able to do in terms of the noise,” said the City’s Department of Environment spokesperson Larry Merit.
