Laundry room noise problems

[westernfan56]

Hi,
Recently, I made a request to speak to Mr. Gigantiello, president of my coop, NorthQueensView Board of Directors. To date, I have not been contacted about the availability of such a date. I have written a letter or two in the past, made several in-office complaints about the laundry room noise I experience in my apartment (especially in the rear of my apartment - my bedroom). I don't understand my letter(s), verbal complaints not responded to by the board of directors either by mail, invitation to be heard at a meeting, etc. For a cooperative so concerned about following "NYC noise ordinances," by enforcing various types of noise (music equipment, amplified or not, stereo, party type gatherings), I don't understand why you're not concerned about a cooperator who is "disturbed" by the constant noise coming from two floors down. I do acknowledge that a change in laundry room hours was made on the weekend, and for that, I thank you. However, the noise level of that huge machine is intolerable. And being awakened on a Sunday morning at 8:15 am by “whirring”, automotive-type sounds is unacceptable. I am entitled to certain living conditions in the way of peace and quiet, according to the lease on my cooperative. I cannot quote the legal-ease at this time, but I am not being given that quality of life. Ever since the installation of the extra large machine, life in that apartment is a living hell for me. I cannot go to sleep before 11 pm, if I choose to. I cannot sleep until 9 or 10, if I choose to in the morning on weekends. The noise is such that I wake up with headaches. Unless I have my television or radio on "very loudly," there is no way to buffer the noise emanating from downstairs. I'll go back to the days when my younger son was learning to play drums. I was told by our manager, Ms. Donna Arrafat, that I should think about soundproofing my apartment, etc. Maybe the coop would be willing to take their own advice. Certainly, in this age of technology, something can be done to buffer the noise that rises up to my apartment. I have been here for 17 years. This is one of the most beautiful, peace, friendliest coops I've seen around NYC. That was up until the installation of the new machine. Putting the new machine on the existing base may not have been a viable option. The previous washers were smaller, and really didn't disturb me this way. If they did, I would have certainly notified you. Perhaps the heavy-duty machine needs a specific base. I'm sorry I can't tell you what that might be, but of course, that shouldn't be my job to do! But I have researched noise pollution artices on the Internet. Some lead to books available for purchase, and positions papers, etc. With these, the ball is in your court to do what you can do to alleviate this induced hardship. I told our manager, “God forbid I was retired and home most of the day. That noise would drive me out of my mind. I couldn't tolerate it.” I also know that the other six buildings have not complained to you because of the vibrating noise. Perhaps the other machines in buildings #1-6 don’t make that noise.
Following this letter, weeks later, I ran into the president, and when I approached him, he was rude and obviously irritated. He claims that the two people working in the management office gave him no request for a meeting with him, and that the board is working on this problem. I have receiving nothing in writing to date, but they write letters about everything else that's trivial under the sun. the board president says his neighbor plays her piano at 9 am in the mornings on the weekend, and everybody has to put up with some noise when you're living in an apartment. I don't think automotive-type noises at 8 am in the morning and up to 11 pm at night is acceptable. Pleases help me.
Thanks
Linda

[aaron]

Are other residents reporting similar problems with the noise?