Some residents that live near the Des Moines International Airport said that the planes can be loud at times. That alone should be sufficient enough evidence for us to all agree that the airport needs to be closed for business immediately. It does not matter that it provides direct job opportunities to our region, brings new people to our city 12 months out of the year, and supports a surrounding business district. What does matter, is that we know the airport is noisy at times. I feel very sorry for the people who purchased homes near there not realizing this could happen. The city needs to act now and protect these people’s investments. It would be much better for us to drive by a boarded up and vacant skeleton of what used to be a thriving environment of energy, rather than to live with this occasional noise.
If the opening paragraph above is a statement you would disagree with, then you need to get involved with the current situation surrounding the Val Air Ballroom! There is a call to action as the concert and event venue that was built in 1939, way before most of the surrounding homes were built and surely before the local home owners made their home purchases, is being over-run by noise complaints. In their fight against the City of West Des Moines, they are urgently gathering support from those who believe the noise ordinance needs to allow them to run their business as similar venues do. More details below from Justin Schoen, in his email out to Des Moines Music Coalition members last night:
Friends and Volunteers of the DMMC:
Part of the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition’s mission is to support the music economy of Central Iowa. One of the most important music venues in our region, Val Air Ballroom, is in trouble and needs help. You may have heard about a group of residents in Des Moines’ Waterbury neighborhood who have complained about noise from the Val Air. While the Val Air has tried its best to adhere to the city code, and address the issues, complaints continue to come from this group of residents. Sound readings taken from the Waterbury neighborhood are consistently well below the legal threshold, but since the law requires that the readings be taken on the Val Air property, a number of tickets have been issued. Now, the Val Air management is evaluating the long-term viability of operating the venue.
This issue is a personal one to me, as I live two blocks west of the Val Air. I moved into my house knowing that there was a music venue down the road, and appreciate the economic activity it brings to my community. Furthermore, I rarely hear noise, and have never been negatively affected inside of my house. Many of my neighbors share my view and also want to protect the Val Air.
This Saturday, December 10th at 9am a group of Val Air supporters are organizing a campaign to gather 5,000 signatures from West Des Moines residents. These signatures will then be presented to the West Des Moines city council as evidence that those in the neighborhood of the Val Air are supportive of the venue and want the council to do everything in its power to work with the venue and protect its future.
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1) Show up at the Val Air on Saturday, December 10th at 9am to help gather signatures
2) Sign the online petition and share it with your friends: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/exempt-the-val-air-from-any-and-all-sound-ordinances/
3) Join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheValAir
Feel free to email ValAirFriends@gmail.com with any questions, or to me directly.
Thank you and I hope you can make it Saturday!
Regards,
Justin
Anyone who’s been through the neighborhood of the Val Air while shows are in progress would most likely disagree that it’s a “disturbance”. Roll down your windows next time you drive by there, chances are you’d be surprised at how little noise is coming from a venue of 8,000+. Those who have found this to be a problem are the same ones who are repeatedly calling in the complaints and hassling their city government. They also have a goal different from yours, which is to take away one more option from your entertainment.
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While I do not live in the area, I have driven by the Val Air countless times during concerts over the years. Since concerts are in the evenings, I usually have my windows down as I pass for 8 months out of the year. I cannot recall hearing any unusually loud noise a single time.
Hell, I experience greater noise issues just about anywhere else in town from other drivers with excessive stereo systems…
The noise violation complaints are more likely being used to rid the area of perceived hooligans attending the concerts. I have little doubt that the complaints are highest when rap or metal artists are performing. I’m sure when country or even pop performances are at the Val Air, the residents have much less to say.
On a whole, it reminds me of the Slipknot Tattoo the Earth Tour fiasco over a decade ago. For those that do not remember, the DM city council revoked the tour’s permit to hold a concert at Water Works the night before it was scheduled due to residents’ alleged concerns over noise. A large number of council members were out of town, including nearly all that supported the concert to being with. And, as any south side resident can tell you, there are not many homes in close proximity to Water Works. In the end, the city council managed to alienate the most successful music group the metro has ever produced AND a large number of young adults (even non-fans) while also hurting the city’s near term prospects for similar concerts.
Only Wells Fargo Arena’s completion and the resurgence of the now-embroiled Val Air were able to rectify the situation.
Good point Adam, because there is a real threat that they could lose potential shows coming in. One of the key goals of the Des Moines Music Coalition is to show people here in Des Moines that they don’t have to drive out of town every time they want to see a show. If it becomes difficult for a venue like Val Air to operate competitively with similar sized venues in other cities, then that will happen if it hasn’t already.
My wife is a music teacher, so we know a thing or two about how music dramatically increases learning and critical thinking & problem solving skills. Music also increases one’s ability to think empathetically.
As musicians, if we don’t put ourselves in “the neighbors shoes” and try to understand their issue, this issue has potential of just getting worse.
Here are a three of my comments regarding this post. These are written with great respect for all parties involved.
1.) An airport is probably not a good comparison. Jets make noise on approach and people fully understand this concept before moving in. Enclosed music venues are typically designed for specific purposes and no one would ever think they would be a public nuisance.
2.) If they are breaking the noise ordinance,like anyone else, they SHOULD be held accountable. Unlike the airport, the Val Air can sound proof and change their own circumstances. The Val Air wasn’t originally intended to house “rock shows”. (I think it used to be a ball-room.
3.) I doubt anyone’s actual goal is to remove another entertainment option. In actuality, their goal is probably to enjoy a quiet neighborhood under a noise ordinance that should be adhered to.
It’s likely a petition or show of support is going to do nothing to quell these neighbors, after all the probably aren’t going to sell their houses and move.
Thanks Justin, it’s right to point out that much of this will not make the situation more compromising with those who are calling in the complaints. There is plenty of reason though to be suspicious of their complaints. As Foodiku refers to below, you almost have to go out of your way to intentionally listen for it.
The only thing that may be bothersome to some of the neighbors is the obvious onslaught of street parking & groups up and down the streets on nights of shows. That’s one thing almost everyone in the neighborhood is used to by now, there’s just a few individuals repeatedly calling in the same complaints.
The airport example was also used to highlight what some people forget in this, in which a venue like Val Air is providing jobs in our community through itself & surrounding businesses. The hotels, restaurants, etc. would take a hit to lose the thousands of people who are coming to shows year round.
As a food reviewer, I don’t like to get political, but . . .
I live less than a mile from Val Air and, until recently, worked in a building literally across from the venue. I could not have been closer unless I worked at the brick place. I often worked WHILE concerts were going on.
Never once while working did I hear noise (and my profession requires me to speak to groups of people, so you’d think if there was a noise problem, I would have noticed). I only heard noise while standing in the parking lot, and even that was highly muffled. In fact, I was surprised one night when it seemed louder, and that’s because the back door to the stage was open. Furthermore, never once have I heard noise from my home. In fact, I’ve heard more noise from the Valley Junction music on Thursday nights, and that’s because those concerts are outdoors.
In other words, if Val Air’s noise was truly an issue, Valley Junction would be getting equal complaints. And it isn’t.
I think this is about something else entirely.
The “noise” at Val Air was a non-issue until certain types of acts–Hispanic, rap, rock, and metal groups–started playing at the Val Air. As a nearby resident and worker who knows firsthand that this is still a non-issue, I firmly believe these are false complaints. Rather, the complaints are a manipulation of law enforcement to remove unwanted crowds and traffic from middle-upper class neighborhoods.
It’s obvious Val Air is booking bigger acts, and that brings in more crowds and more traffic along side streets. And that is a perceived inconvenience to quieter neighborhoods. Some of that traffic may be loud and playing loud music as they come and go, and that is also a perceived inconvenience. And some of that music is probably bass heavy (as rap and metal tend to be). And that also brings complaints.
So, the problem here isn’t Val Air. It’s the types of crowds Val Air brings. And to me . . . that isn’t a real problem.
Isn’t it true that the most vocal of complaints are coming from Des Moines, up the hill. So the people that give their own opinion about the lack of noise should maybe try to go to where the complaints are coming from. And besides, I don’t think it is “noise”, it is the thumping of bass. Which can be super irritating, but not necessarily “loud”.
I have lived directly to the west of the Val Air for over 6 years, in fact our properties meet. I have heard the sound from the concerts from the Val Air, but not once has it ever affected my style of living. I’ve never once considered calling in to complain. Ive lived near the airport for many years in the past, and the noise level from the airport is much greater then any noise coming from the Val Air.
There have been times when the bass is heard, but not once has my windows rattled, or had to turn up my tv to drown out the sound. I welcome the entertainers who come to the Val Air, its gives the city a chance to showcase a building that has been around since the 30′s as well as show what great people live in the state of Iowa.
Its time we put our petty differences aside and let the Val Air do what it is meant to do..ENTERTAIN!