Since the dawn of Williamsburg Gentrification, residents have found something to complain about—and recently every summer, without fail, it's the concert series. This used to be held in McCarren Park Pool, but for the past three years has been holding up on the waterfront. Last year things came to a head after jam band Widespread Panic performed and their nitrous-fueled fans terrorized residents by using their "outdoor voices." The Open Space Alliance, who now runs the series, compromised this year by moving down Kent about three blocks, but the move has residents complaining even more.
The new renderings for the outdoor venue, released last week, shows the stage facing the street, not the river, where in theory some sound may be absorbed. Resident Robin Haggert told the Brooklyn Paper, “After offending the neighborhood with noise and crowds in the past few years, they move it just a few blocks north and face the stage at new neighbors—brilliant!”
For their part, OSA reminds that they "have moved our venue to a location surrounded by industrial and commercial zoning,” when previously it was right next to the Edge, and other, condos. And the area is much more industrial, but presumably neighbors think the sound will carry, and the concert-goers will be loud upon departing the shows. We'd hate to sound cliche, but "Welcome to New York."
