Don't unplug The Rev -- it's trying to tone things down

Crackdown against fights, litter should placate neighbours of noisy nightclubs

Publication title: Edmonton Journal

Pages: B3

Section: City

Publication date: Jan 5, 2001

ProQuest document ID: 252768040

Copyright: Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Jan 5, 2001

Author: Chalmers, Ron

Abstract:

That may not satisfy some neighbours, because 60 dBA is four times as intense as the 50 dBA level (measured on a logarithmic scale) allowed in residential areas.

Oliver Friedmann, part-owner and general manager of the clubs, says they now meet the 60 dBA standard.

On the advice of an acoustical consultant, Friedmann recently added a sound-insulated vestibule behind the back door of the Rev and Lush clubs.

Full text:

The Rev, Lush and Therapy clubs should be given a chance to remain open despite their proximity to Alberta Place Suite Hotel and Cathedral Close Senior Citizens' Apartments.

The city's chief licensing officer will convene a hearing on Jan. 12 to decide whether the nightclubs' licences should be renewed.

The hearing was requested by the Edmonton Police Service, which has issued 30 tickets to the clubs for alleged violations of the city noise bylaw.

The clubs pleaded guilty on two counts; the others are unresolved.

Nightclubs and residential buildings are never ideal neighbours, but there's no clear case for favouring the one land use over the other.

Alberta Place has existed for 30 years, on the east side of 103rd Street south of Jasper Avenue. Cathedral Close is next door.

The Rev, formerly The Bronx, has operated for 12 years across the lane in the former Citadel building on 102nd Street.

The properties all are zoned for commercial use.

The Rev and Lush are licensed nightclubs with live and recorded music, open Tuesday through Saturday until about 3 a.m.

Therapy, a rave club, is not licensed to serve alcohol. It's open as late as 7 a.m. on weekends.

I believe the licences should be renewed -- conditionally.

They should, of course, be required to obey a part of the bylaw that limits noise after 10 p.m. to 60 dBA (decibels).

But that may not satisfy some neighbours, because 60 dBA is four times as intense as the 50 dBA level (measured on a logarithmic scale) allowed in residential areas.

Oliver Friedmann, part-owner and general manager of the clubs, says they now meet the 60 dBA standard.

On the advice of an acoustical consultant, Friedmann recently added a sound-insulated vestibule behind the back door of the Rev and Lush clubs.

He also reduced interior sound volumes, diminished the most penetrating sound frequencies and dampened speaker vibrations.

But the noise bylaw also defines an offence for any noise that disturbs "the peace, comfort or the repose of any person."

That's subjective and potentially unfair.

Friedmann says most of his patrons are students at the U of A, NAIT or Grant MacEwan College.

He points out that The Rev has enhanced Edmonton's music scene by providing a live venue for groups including Nirvana, Green Day and Great Big Sea.

In short, the three clubs are just what one should expect in an active downtown.

The noise bylaw must be interpreted within that context; neighbours should not demand the quietude that they could have found in a residential area.

Still, Friedmann must accept some responsibility to provide peace, comfort and repose.

He suggests mediation; the licensing officer could require it.

Finally, there's the disruptive behaviour of patrons who leave the clubs and loiter in the lane or an adjacent parking lot.

"If you allow after-hours clubs, you're going to have systemic problems," police Const. Grant Jongejan says.

"It's bringing people downtown at four or five in the morning, there's noise, traffic, fights, kids, graffiti."

Let's put this in perspective:

A city, almost by definition, is a systemic problem.

And Edmonton's 5 a.m. vehicle traffic isn't really too serious.

But noise, fighting, graffiti and littering do require action.

Revoking licences is one option -- although those activities occur outside the club properties.

Before invoking that last resort, the licensing officer should seek a more constructive solution.

Friedmann says he has worked with the parking lot owner, has increased his security staff and is educating patrons to respect the neighbours.

"Some of the people in the parking lot and the lane aren't even from our clubs," he says.

Perhaps he could do more.

But the police also could promote more responsible behaviour among people outside the clubs, through persuasion where possible -- and by enforcing noise, littering, fighting and mischief laws where necessary.