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Building of sound barrier begins

Some residents are skeptical that the wall at the Ford Amphitheatre will make their neighborhoods quieter.

By MICHAEL A. MOHAMMED
Published September 24, 2006

After nearly two years of neighbor complaints, litigation and construction delays, the Ford Amphitheatre has started work on a 74-foot-high sound barrier.

Since it opened in July 2004, the 20,000-seat concert venue has drawn hundreds of noise complaints from residents as far away as 4 miles. Amphitheater officials hope that once the $2.5-million wall is finished by year's end, concert noise will fall within county regulations.

"I can't speak ... in percentages, but the scientific modeling shows that it will bring us within compliance," said amphitheater executive director Ed Morrell.

Live Nation agreed to build the wall as part of a November 2005 settlement of a lawsuit the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission brought against Clear Channel, Live Nation's parent company, in 2004. The initial deadline to complete the wall was Sept. 30, barring any "delays beyond the direct control" of the company.

This spring, unstable soil required engineers to partially redesign the wall. Then a national steel shortage made it difficult getting the 400 tons of steel needed for the project. Now that the wall is finally under way, many residents hope their neighborhoods will get quieter. However, some are skeptical the wall will solve the problem. "What's going to happen when the wall is built?" asked Edward Schroering, who has actively protested the noise. "Are they going to go and start booking the loud concerts again?"

After the settlement was reached, Live Nation made some short-term changes to lower the noise, including adjusting the speakers, avoiding extra-loud acts and erecting a temporary sound wall. According to a report from Live Nation to the EPC, those changes lowered the average number of complaints from 12 for the 18 concerts held between July 2004 and April 2005, to two complaints for the first 18 concerts held in 2006. Shroering and other residents have expressed concern that Live Nation may use the wall as a "token" to seek a variance from the County Commission on the noise restrictions after the wall is built. Live Nation representatives have said they have no plans to do so.

[Last modified September 24, 2006, 01:03:51]