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Loud Neighbors
updated: Jul 14, 2012, 8:05 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

We just moved into around the North Calle Cesar Chavez and Montecito St.,; notice there is loud music and disco light in the building of 300 North Calle Cesar Chavez (community center or church?) during Fri. night and up to the 1~2am Sat.; very loud pop music all night long.

We talked to neighbor and know there are lots party at that building....but it's that legal to have such loud noise up to midnight? Just wondering how can they keep on going and police don't come and stop them after 10pm.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 297706	2012-07-14 08:13 PM
In that hood?, yes
COMMENT 297710P	2012-07-14 08:20 PM
That's the problem with our city planning. These infill residential developments are often not compatable with the surrounding neighborhood. If it were the case otherwise, residential development would have occured there long ago.
COMMENT 297713P	2012-07-14 08:24 PM
Wouldn't happen in Montecito. Gee, I wonder why?
COMMENT 297714	2012-07-14 08:26 PM
You should go over and have a beer maybe you will make some new friends.
COMMENT 297715	2012-07-14 08:28 PM
Better just join the party.
EZ2	2012-07-14 08:31 PM
Double pane windows
ROGER DODGER	2012-07-14 08:32 PM
I think quiet time is 10pm. People usually call the police if they are being disturbed from loud noise, but not many people are willing to sign a complaint. The police don't just show up they are very busy here..Things have changed it's not the quiet little town it used to be. They put emergency calls first so sometimes a 415 Noise complaint can take hours for them to show up to..
COMMENT 297726	2012-07-14 08:48 PM
On weekends they can legally party til midnight...
COMMENT 297732P	2012-07-14 09:58 PM
We had a really bad problem a few years ago. I looked up the name and residential phone number of the actual owner of the property and called them at 2 AM. And I held the phone so that they could hear the noise coming from their income property. I told them that when their tenants keep us awake that we will call the property owners. This was quite effective.
COMMENT 297739P	2012-07-14 11:39 PM
Actually, you can get triple-pane, or extra thick glass on the windows.... Just call the cops and complain about the excessive noise after 10pm... or the volume
COMMENT 297749	2012-07-15 07:01 AM
No oversight in that neighborhood, it's like the wild west.
COMMENT 297753P	2012-07-15 07:27 AM
When that development went before the various review boards it was pointed out that it is not a particularly safe neighborhood at night, (the developer was pushing the walk-to-Scolaris quality of the neighborhood) and that the Casa de la Raza is next door. Basically, this is not supposed to be a residential neighborhood, but the city chose differently, figuring that lower income people slated for that development would not complain. The Casa does have regular parties there in the summers. As noted, if you can't stop it (and you can't and shouldn't), join them. Btw, whatever happened about the Casa's property tax debt?
COMMENT 297758	2012-07-15 07:53 AM
Try asking them to STFU. Sometimes direct action is best and quickest.
COMMENT 297764	2012-07-15 08:01 AM
The police will only enforce noise ordinances if they get a call with a complaint. Have you called SBPD to request assistance?
COMMENT 297776	2012-07-15 08:42 AM
There should be a noise stipulation in the lease. One business owner was harrased by a neighbor from across the street every weekend. I found out that when she signed her lease, there was a rule that said that you will put up with the bar noise from across the street. She still called all the time, that is until I pointed out that it was in her lease to shut up about it.
COMMENT 297777	2012-07-15 08:44 AM
Look around. You bought into a commercial area. And now you expect the world to quiet down just becuase you moved in?
COMMENT 297795	2012-07-15 09:10 AM
As someone born and raised in SB, who went to many happenings at the Casa and is a local appraiser, I was surprised to see those condos going in. I wondered who would buy there, not really a safe or quiet area... Being in real estate, it is always amusing when someone buys and then complains. I tell people to come by the potential house at different hours of the day and week, and check out the neighborhood before signing that paperwork. Good luck!
SBJULES	2012-07-15 09:16 AM
Great advice from 297795!
LOLA	2012-07-15 09:56 AM
You moved to their neighborhood. Suck it up. NOTE: See Deletion Rule #15
COMMENT 297821	2012-07-15 11:07 AM
I remember a lady wanting to sit in the house that was available for rent, to see how it "felt."
COMMENT 297841	2012-07-15 12:21 PM
It would have been a good idea to check out the area at nights and on weekends before moving in. That's not a residential area, and though the brochure looked nice (and indeed was broadcast on a bicycled-billboard all over the place) one look around should have sparked some curiosity. You moved into an existing area with established patterns. You should have looked into that before moving in, because you'd need to adapt. It's a little out of place to now suggest the area comply with you and your needs.
COMMENT 297843	2012-07-15 12:26 PM
We have loud obnoxious neighbors too, but they are mostly super loud all day long. The police will take action after 10pm, however they do a courtesy call before that...however, the police will tell the neighbor who called. They wont usually come out for an anonymous call, you have to be identified. If you call the police, and the noise continues, the partiers can be cited. If they are renters, it is much much more effective to call the police to make a paper trail, and then call the landlord every time there is a problem. Most loud people feel they have a right to be as loud as they want...unless they are told by some sort of authority like the police or landlord to stop. Also, extreme noisemakers are often bullies, and have scared your naighbors into silence. Good luck to you.
COMMENT 297844P	2012-07-15 12:32 PM
841 is right on; before buying one of those condos, close to the freeway, across the street from a community center that is well known to have occasionally block parties with very loud music, you should have checked it out. However, the developer, Dettie Peikert, I think, should have had a clause there advising future purchasers that they were buying into an industrial area. It went through extensive design and planning review.
COMMENT 297845	2012-07-15 12:39 PM
Casa De La Raza was there before your house was...
COMMENT 297853	2012-07-15 01:18 PM
There's hope. You'll get used to those loud base sounds, played over and over again, eventually...... Just like living near an airport, one day you'll wake up and not even notice the heavy base anymore. Try to sell your house on a Sunday morning and hope potential buyers don't visit at night?
COMMENT 297854	2012-07-15 01:21 PM
Get a really big amplifier, big speakers and lots of Slim Whitman (Mars Attacks) CD's .... Play at full volume until all the party-ers leave the area.
COMMENT 297874	2012-07-15 04:02 PM
We had loud partying neighbors every Saturday night until 2am. The first time we ignored it. The second time we stopped by the next day. The wife apologized and said they would keep it down. The 3rd time we went over while the party was happening right after midnight - and got the "it is my house I can party of I want" from the husband. We called the police and filled out a complaint. The police shut them down and made everyone leave. After that they took the party indoors and it has been fine ever since. There is a noise ordinance. I think it is 10pm weeknights and midnight weekends. But even during the day there are rules for how loud it came be. Fill out a complaint, do not be afraid to give your name.
COMMENT 297876	2012-07-15 04:14 PM
Condo idea is good for limited available land, especially in SB. The rent is very high here and that is good to have affordable house for people who pay the rent is as same as (or even higher than) the monthly mortgage to buy one. Just need to check out the neighborhood first.
COMMENT 297878	2012-07-15 04:18 PM
I was very surprised that a residential development went in at the corner of Montecito and Calle Caesar Chavez. I have worked in that neighborhood for years. Oh, the stories I could tell.
COMMENT 297889	2012-07-15 05:59 PM
I live in this area as well and actually have had no safety complaints or issues since moving in. It isn't "the hood" as some of you think and it is also NOT subsidized housing. We came from a wealthy area in a midwest city and we enjoy the community and figure parties on the week end could happen in any neighborhood in any city. I bet there are other residential areas that are less safe than this as well as more safe than this in Santa Barbara and like residents in ALL parts of the city, expect a police presence when needed. So, if you commenters could get off your high horses and look around you, you might see that this section of town may just be in the beginning throes of gentrification and thanks to people like us blazing the way, a once less desirable area will one day become a perfect place for YOU to live because of the sacrifices we made.
COMMENT 297909P	2012-07-15 07:36 PM
889: good for you! I am glad you enjoy living in SB and am glad the occasional noise is not a problem. The issues that came up in the review process included that this area was zoned M-1; a city needs to have some areas that are zoned not for residential and there was and is a concern about "gentrification" driving out needed and necessary businesses that are not necessarily compatible with residential usage. (There was also a question about a high water table in that area.) Hopefully, the residential building will not expand in that area. The large lot was originally planned for subsidized housing, to be for non-profit workers. That didn't work out and the developer bought it and, I think, had to design in some "affordable" units.
COMMENT 297953	2012-07-16 07:56 AM
909: Thanks for the background on the area. It's a good fit for us and if we remain an island in this industrial area, then so be it. We will have enjoyed living close to downtown without the crowdedness of downtown!
COMMENT 297972	2012-07-16 08:45 AM
M-1 zoning doesn't give anyone the right to have loud all night parties and sorry casa de la tax evasion defenders but it really doesn't matter that they were there first. These new condo owners and renters should expect the same courtesy we all do from ours. Call the police they respond with the same diligence regardless of neighborhood.
COMMENT 298050	2012-07-16 12:02 PM
If it's Casa de la Raza that's the problem try contacting Sebastian Aldana directly...his phone number is 805-304-3637. He is a very nice person. He ran for city council last year. I'm sure he will listen and be helpful.
COMMENT 298069	2012-07-16 12:34 PM
The new condo doesn't allow renters; it can only be the buyer's permanent rresidential; and the buyer needs to "work in SB" when purchase. Agree with #972; people who live in SB should have same courtesy that everybody does, no matter where they are from but now they live here!!! Understand people can have the Casa facility rentals for special event and other activities, but believe all the activities should lower the volume after 10pm (or someone said "allow to up to midnight during the weekend") Really don't think that's allow to up to around 2am. Not sure if La Casa de la Raza aware that situation; guess La Casa de la Raza may not have employee to stand by during the whole event and how's Casa's rental regulation and agreement limited the time frame?
COMMENT 298174	2012-07-16 03:46 PM
@889 Are you sure you want to trumpet gentrification? Here's what it means: Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people ("gentry") acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with migration within a population. In a community undergoing gentrification, the average income increases and average family size decreases. This generally results in the displacement of the poorer, pre-gentrification residents, who are unable to pay increased rents or house prices and property taxes. Often old industrial buildings are converted to residences and shops. In addition, new businesses, catering to a more affluent base of consumers, move in, further increasing the appeal to more affluent migrants and decreasing the accessibility to the poor.

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