PORTLAND — A Portland hotel says its losing business because of noise from bars in the Old Port.
The manager of Hyatt Place, Alen Saric, says he’s receiving noise complaints from guests.
“It’s coming from the, typically from the speakers put outside, from the doors being left wide open and having the bass blast inside the clubs,” Saric said about the noise.
He’s asking for changes to Portland’s sound ordinance.
Right now the city allows up to 92 decibels. According to Purdue University, 90 decibels is about the sound of a lawn mower or a nearby motorcycle.
“Boston allows 70 decibels during the day,” Saric said. “And from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. they only allow 50 decibels.”
Some local bar owners say the hotel could have prevented any issues with more soundproofing, knowing that this was an entertainment district.
“Doesn’t matter what sort of construction or what sort of window you have, it will travel through that,” Saric argued.
Alex Berthiaume, who goes out in the Old Port a few times a month, questions how a new ordinance would be regulated.
“I really don’t think there’s much they can do,” he said. “There’s a heavy police presence down here every weekend, so it’s not like people are just running wild, just people out late at night having fun.”
Portland’s Downtown District works with all businesses in the Old Port area. Executive Director Steve Hewins hopes city officials find a good balance.
“The entertainment district downtown is very popular, and we don’t want to negatively affect the opportunity of the establishments down there to do what they do,” Hewins said. “At the same time, we now have new hotels in the downtown that’s changing the dynamics of the city. Many people that come downtown to stay aren’t necessarily going to bars.”
According to city officials, the Portland City Council will approve a new Sound Oversight Committee at its Feb. 2 meeting. Then that committee will meet to discuss this ordinance. After that, members of the committee will provide updates to the Public Safety Committee.