Docks shutdown sparks noise debate
Residents send bar owners a message
Work with us to reduce noise, conflict
Jul. 26, 2006. 05:41 AM
JESSICA LEEDER
STAFF REPORTER
It doesn't have to be this way.
That's the message sleep-deprived residents in the city's entertainment districts want to send bar operators in the wake of a surprising noise crackdown at the Docks nightclub this week that threatens the bar's future.
"We actually aren't against the clubs," said Wayne Scott, chairman of the King-Spadina Residents Association, a coalition of concerned residents who live between University Ave. and Bathurst St., and Queen and Front Sts., among the city's highest concentration of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. For two years, the association has been working to help residents and clubs peacefully coexist.
"What we're against are club operators who let their clubs spill out into the neighbourhood," Scott said. "The law doesn't give them the right to impact the neighbourhood the way they do."
In Scott's neighbourhood, residents and some club owners have put their heads together to come up with compromise noise solutions. "It's gone from being the Wild West where anything goes, to a transition period," Scott said. "In many ways, we're optimistic."
John Cavalieri is the general manager of the Peter St. club complex that houses Level Nightclub, Suite 106 and Wet Bar, which together can accommodate 1,600 partygoers. Cavalieri said he didn't mind making changes when he realized the impact that noise was having on nearby residents.
"We realized the sound system was facing the residents, so we put in surround sound to face the customers," he said. "We also put a noise wall up, made of concrete and wood, to absorb and stop the music from going out that way. Since then, we haven't received a complaint."
Cavalieri said he didn't see residents as "chronic complainers."
"Who wants to get up at 2 a.m. when you have to work a 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. job? Nobody wants to do that. It's a legitimate complaint," he said, adding: "And you could lose your licence over it."
The co-operation strategy has worked so well, Scott said, that other residents' associations are calling him for advice. He said the Docks crackdown has made him even more optimistic that club owners who have shied away from meeting with residents' associations will come around instead of risking a liquor licence shutdown.
Earlier this week, the 10,000-person waterfront entertainment club had its liquor licence revoked over noise complaints in a precedent-setting decision — the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has suspended, but never removed, a licence solely because of noise issues.
Lawyers for the club say they plan to appeal, which could trigger a long court struggle.
The city has for years tried to get the Docks to comply with noise restrictions, said spokesman Brad Ross. But the end goal, he said, was not to shut the place down.
"We're not in the business of putting business out of business," he said. "This certainly isn't a blitz on clubs and noise."
At least now we know who is in charge. Who would have thought a bunch of cottagers -- many of whom don't pay property taxes while living on disputed land -- would have so much clout? Turns out they call the shots.
First, the island airport bridge was killed and now perhaps The Docks. Beware, party boats. Keep your weddings in check!
Welcome to Mayor David Miller's Toronto -- a city where more stuff on the harbour seems to get shut down than what goes up. Old Marx and Lenin would be so proud.
Perhaps soon The Docks will be a vacant wasteland, like the goofy Rochester ferry building -- another Miller success story. "Noise is a huge topic across this city," he told the Sun's Rob Granatstein. "Businesses have to follow the laws. We're a big city, and noise and quiet matter to people, whether it's on the waterfront or elsewhere."
The guy who runs a panhandling business and defecates on the sidewalk daily doesn't seem to follow the rules and still gets to stay -- even if he yells out at the top of his lungs that he is the messiah. He's a messiah who also doesn't pay taxes.
Imagine keeping a straight face while busting a nightclub for being noisy? Serve booze, but keep it down! This is the latest embarrassment in a city that could be so unbelievably great. Even Miller's chief rival, Councillor Jane Pitfield, was complaining there are too many nightclubs in the Entertainment District.
What? That's why they call it the Entertainment District! Maybe council would prefer the buildings to be vacant, or occupied by a "quiet" methadone clinic.
At the city entrance there should be a sign: "No fun." You know you won't see any of these quiet seekers protesting the noise at the Gay Pride Parade, Caribana, after a Maple Leaf playoff win, or a protest against former premier Mike Harris. Nor should they.
Meanwhile The Docks, which recently invested $4 million in renovations, gets no breaks -- tax or otherwise. It's an easy target for a pack of bullies led by the dynamite duo of Councillors Paula Fletcher and Pam McConnell.
"We wanted to shut them up, not shut them down," Fletcher told Granatstein. "But the ACGO is shutting them down because they won't shut up. The city isn't shutting anybody down."
Nudge-nudge, wink-wink. That's why late yesterday, fresh off the kill, city staffers were flexing their muscles, warning other clubs beware. Too bad they wouldn't chase the murderous gangs. Gunfire and sirens are noisy too.
No, the latest victim of the leftist-controlled city and province is The Docks because some granola-eating islanders want to live the life of gentry right inside the city that the rest of us pay taxes in. The Docks pays taxes too.
And its 300 jobs are in jeopardy, thanks to a ridiculous ruling by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission to go all out and "revoke" its liquor licence in mid-summer.
There must have been other things they could have done, says David Knights, who owns one of 10 businesses in limbo at The Docks. "Why didn't they at least wait until the fall?"
Now dozens of university kids are counting on a judge to overturn the decision this Friday.
The place was virtually empty yesterday -- like much of the rest of the portlands. Maybe a tent city would be better? Or a giant safe-injection zone. Don't laugh.
"The city wants that land," said a source, adding The Docks could be a problem for a potential Expo bid.
Docks owner Jerry Sprachman has made no secret of his dream of having a casino -- which doesn't fit Miller's vision of cars and helicopters are bad and bikes are good.
Perhaps council is jealous because The Docks has managed to do what it hasn't. Unlike the city, this guy Sprachman created something unique on the ugly, unused waterfront -- swimming, beach volleyball, golf, live music, dancing, go-karting and even a night at the drive-in movie! And he did it with no taxpayers' cash.
No wonder those in charge hate him.
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• You can call Joe Warmington at (416) 947-2392 or e-mail at [email protected][/email]
• Have a letter for the editor? E-mail it to [email][email protected]
Tricky_T
quote:
Originally posted by AdReNaLiNa
Interesting editorial in The Sun criticizing Miller's take on this issue..
Bomb editorial, right on the money, on every topic surrounding the issue... It is uplifting to know that the masses got to read our take on this, just too bad that Warmington doesn't write for the Globe and Mail...
~peace
dEsidEL
these ppl below need to learn to quite down in public for fear of disturbing someone:
The Highroller
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter to express my disappointment in the ACGO’s recent decision to revoke The Docks’ liquor license due to apparent noise complaints by the residents of the Toronto Islands.
Tens of thousands of patrons visit The Docks every year. From corporate functions, to drive in movies, to nights of dancing, The Docks provides a unique experience to tourists and Toronto residents alike. With the largest licensed outdoor patio, it is easy to say that The Docks is one of Toronto’s major tourist attractions. Revoking The Docks’ liquor license effectively removes its major revenue earning vehicle. Without the ability to sell liquor, The Docks will surely close. The economic effects are harsh: 400 lost jobs and $39,000,000 of tax revenue from all 3 levels of government. How will these governments compensate for this lost revenue? I do not believe many tax payers will be too keen on the idea of picking up the tab.
The residents of the Toronto Island pay an extremely low price for a lease to live on the Toronto Islands. From my understanding, the Islanders paid $30,000-$42,000 to live 99 years on the land. This works out to about $25 per month. Considering the size and location of these lots, this price is extremely unfair. What these people pay to live on this property is significantly less than what the average citizen pays in property taxes alone. Yet somehow, even with these artificial, ultra-low priced leases, these favoured citizens are holding the development of our waterfront hostage. The Toronto Islands are in close proximity to the center of the largest city in Canada. Therefore, the belief of the Toronto Island residents that they have a “right” to peace and quiet in this very noisy area is not only ridiculous, but also very selfish.
We constantly like to tell ourselves that Toronto is a world-class city. I would have to disagree. We are almost there, but there are certain things we need to do to get to the finish line. The developed waterfront is a key ingredient to becoming a world class city. With this decision by the ACGO, development of the waterfront is going backwards, and we are getting farther and farther away from becoming a world-class city. If we keep listening to the noise complaints of the residents of the Toronto Island, the waterfront will stay unused until that 99 year lease is finally up.
AdReNaLiNa
^^
Very well said.. particularly the last paragraph. If the city leaders do not see this point, then Toronto will never be able to reach its full potential as a metropolitan city.
LiamK
I've sent a letter. This whole thing is obscene. I hope I don't live to see the day we lose the last of our freedom in case someone else doesn't like us exercising it.
