October 22, 2014

Noise Levels Acceptable at Hospital Site But Things May Be About to Get Louder

As the former Princeton Hospital building is steadily dismantled, officials are keeping a close eye С or ear С on decibel levels. AvalonBay, the developer building a rental complex on the Witherspoon Street site, has an acoustical consultant on hand, while engineering and health officers from the municipality and Mercer County continue to monitor the sounds of crunching concrete.

While complaints have been lodged by a number of area residents, acceptable noise levels have not been exceeded so far. But that could change once the largest of the buildings come down. “They’re sort of acting as a shield for the neighborhood right now,” said Bob Kiser, the town’s municipal engineer. “So it remains to be seen how things will work out once they get started on those buildings.”

Depending on the weather, that could happen within the next month. Excessively cold temperatures could halt the demolition because the misting operation being used to help control dust could freeze, Mr. Kiser said.

Princeton’s health officer Jeffrey Grosser said most of the noise issues reported by residents have had to do with work on the parking garage, where removal of the upper level concrete floor deck is being replaced with a new concrete deck. “That was addressed through some noise dampening walls they had purchased, which worked pretty effectively,” he said. “There were also some blankets in use. But obviously with the larger structure coming down, that will change.”

Council member Jo Butler said that she and fellow Council member Jenny Crumiller have been contacted on a number of occasions by residents bothered by the noise. “But Bob Kiser and [health officer] Jeff Grosser have been terrific, really getting out there and working with the county,” she said. “I really think they’re doing their best.”

Mr. Grosser, Mr. Kiser, the town’s construction official, and land use engineer Jack West have been meeting at the demolition site every Monday with representatives from AvalonBay and Yannuzzi Wrecking and Recycling to go over the progress, Mr. Grosser said. At the most recent meeting, the issue of an odor was raised.

“My initial evaluation was that it was due to some kind of exhaust from one of the machines,” Mr. Grosser said. “I haven’t heard anything else. There were no odors on Monday when we were out there.”

Demolition work on the former hospital site, to make room for the 280 unit rental property, began September 22. Three of eight buildings have already been razed, leaving another five to be taken down. The overall project is expected to take another six months, according to progress reports from the town.

Should noise levels become extreme once the larger buildings are dismantled, “we will take readings and appropriate action if we have to,” Mr. Kiser said. “We would have to document it and then go back and determine what can be done to reduce the noise. If necessary, I’m sure our attorneys will be dealing with it.”