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Pier 26 Concert Series Not Returning Next Year Because of Noise Complaints

 The Specials performed at Pier 26 in July. Residents have complained about the noise levels from the large shows on the pier.
The Specials performed at Pier 26 in July. Residents have complained about the noise levels from the large shows on the pier.
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Facebook/ The Bowery Presents

TRIBECA — Hudson River Park’s first summer concert series on Pier 26 will likely be its last, thanks to a barrage of noise complaints.

The Hudson River Park Trust has decided not to bring its summer concert programming, which debuted this year, back to the TriBeCa pier for another season, said Madelyn Wils, president of the Trust, in an email sent Friday to residents in several nearby buildings who complained about the blaring noise from the shows.

“We had many people who complained, and we had just as many people who told us they loved the concerts, “ Wils told DNAinfo New York Monday. “But this is a park, a place that should bring enjoyment, and we have no intention of making people upset with something that was meant to be fun.”

Despite noise levels that were measured within legal limits at several concerts, the 1st Precinct told Community Board 1 in July, numerous residents complained that the booming sound was echoing off neighboring buildings and was unbearably loud from inside their apartments.

“We viewed the concert series as a way to enliven and bring a quality music series to an unfinished pier,” Wils wrote in the email, which was first reported by Tribeca Citizen. “We did not realize that sound from Pier 26 with this speaker configuration would reverberate in surrounding buildings to the degree that has been reported by many of our neighbors.”

Along with the concert series, which featured Grammy-winning pop-rock trio fun, Pier 26 hosted several Gay Pride events this summer that also drummed up a slew of gripes about the noise.

The concert series still has several shows this summer, including popular One Republic on Aug. 10 and Passion Pit on Sept. 6 and 7, but Wils asked The Bowery Presents to forgo another concert allowed for in their contract, according to the email, making Sept. 7 the final concert on the pier.

Wils said the Trust is working with an acoustics engineer and the Department of Environmental Protection to mitigate the sound for the remaining shows.

"What was meant to be a positive experience has ended up disturbing many of our neighbors, and we apologize for that and ask for your patience and understanding during the remaining four concerts," Wils said in the email.  "Moving forward, our goal is to bring unique and broad-ranging programming that serves Tribeca residents, as well as others in New York City. "