Greenland USA exec: still waiting for replacement part to tamp down whistling sound disturbing Prospect Heights neighbors
This is the first of two articles about the Jan. 25 Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Quality of Life meeting, held by Empire State Development (ESD), which oversees/shepherds the project. The second is a round-up of issues.
In the brief (36 minutes) and mostly uneventful meeting, the most significant news came from Greenland USA executive Scott Solish’s effort to describe the efforts to address a perplexing whistling sound from 38 Sixth Avenue, which has disturbed neighbors for weeks. (Greenland USA is the dominant player in Greenland Forest City Partners, which built the tower.)
The sound comes from the rooftop boiler room, which provides heat and hot water to the 303 units as well as the healthcare facility run by New-York Presbyterian.
Of the three boilers, two have malfunctioned. (The building opened in 2017.) For one, he said, the parts were available in stock and so it was fixed quickly.
For the second, the burner replacement part is on order. (Note that Council Member Crystal Hudson was told it would be resolved last week.) “Unfortunately, it's not been fast enough for anyone,” Solish said. “So while there's been constant mitigation from the plumbers and technicians that are on site that are on call to address this, it has not been repaired fast enough.”
The sound comes from the rooftop boiler room, which provides heat and hot water to the 303 units as well as the healthcare facility run by New-York Presbyterian.
Of the three boilers, two have malfunctioned. (The building opened in 2017.) For one, he said, the parts were available in stock and so it was fixed quickly.
For the second, the burner replacement part is on order. (Note that Council Member Crystal Hudson was told it would be resolved last week.) “Unfortunately, it's not been fast enough for anyone,” Solish said. “So while there's been constant mitigation from the plumbers and technicians that are on site that are on call to address this, it has not been repaired fast enough.”
Making adjustments
Solish said that he, as well as onsite managers and construction workers have been monitoring the situation, but the “low whistling sound can creep up at a moment's notice.”
“So we had technicians there again today when the noise started this afternoon,” he said. “They made a series of calibrations and adjustments to the boiler in an effort to reduce the whistling affect.”
Solish expressed sympathy with neighbors but also said, “It is a strange noise in that most of the times no one in the building can hear it. So it's a little unique that there's a noise that seems to only travel a few blocks to the south and never to the east, west or north.” (In the chat, visible only to presenters, resident Louis V. Galdieri countered that, Solish acknowledged.) “But be that as it may. We are waiting for this part to come in.”
He said they can’t disconnect the boiler because its function is important to the building. ”I appreciate your patience,” he said. “I understand your frustrations as someone who has spent just as much time working from home near busy construction sites as everyone else.”
Solish said that he, as well as onsite managers and construction workers have been monitoring the situation, but the “low whistling sound can creep up at a moment's notice.”
“So we had technicians there again today when the noise started this afternoon,” he said. “They made a series of calibrations and adjustments to the boiler in an effort to reduce the whistling affect.”
Solish expressed sympathy with neighbors but also said, “It is a strange noise in that most of the times no one in the building can hear it. So it's a little unique that there's a noise that seems to only travel a few blocks to the south and never to the east, west or north.” (In the chat, visible only to presenters, resident Louis V. Galdieri countered that, Solish acknowledged.) “But be that as it may. We are waiting for this part to come in.”
He said they can’t disconnect the boiler because its function is important to the building. ”I appreciate your patience,” he said. “I understand your frustrations as someone who has spent just as much time working from home near busy construction sites as everyone else.”
The reaction
Fingers crossed that we might see some resolution soon. I was not thrilled by the focus on where it cannot be heard, but I hope they are taking it seriously. Also: they need to change the format of these meetings. Allow community participants to speak and be seen. Share the mic.
— Louis V. Galdieri (@lvgaldieri) January 26, 2022
Imagine inviting a community to a meeting about “quality of life” issues but keeping them all on mute. That’s the approach. https://t.co/AM3fB2ajIH
— Louis V. Galdieri (@lvgaldieri) January 26, 2022
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