How much noise am I in for, and should I rethink renewing my lease?

December 9, 2018 4:39 PM

The decrepit building right next to our apartment was just torn down and it is now close to being an empty lot. It is now mostly flat dirt with some vehicles still there. Is there a way to view public records to see if there are construction plans soon? I'm hoping it will be a vacant lot for the foreseeable future. This is in Hobken NJ, so new construction next door would be literally touching our bedroom wall.
posted by ridogi to Law & Government (9 answers total)

Are you there during the day? How big a lot is it? Can they build taller than 4–5 stories?
posted by 1970s Antihero at 4:52 PM on December 9, 2018

Response by poster: I work at home so I'm at home most days which is why putting up with the noise would really impact me. Most buildings in my area are 4 or 5 stories, and I think it is too small of a plot to have something really tall.
posted by ridogi at 5:06 PM on December 9, 2018

Seems like any "action" would also be your landlord's concerns as well. Can that person investigate keeping your interests absent for the moment?

Their property value, tenants' "quite enjoyment", power, sewer service, many issues great and small.

Landlord could be your friend here.
posted by Freedomboy at 6:13 PM on December 9, 2018

Best answer: You can look for the property ownership info via the assessors office here:
http://tax1.co.monmouth.nj.us/cgi-bin/prc6.cgi?menu=index&ms_user=monm&passwd=data&district=1301&mode=11
And then contact the construction code office to see if any permit applications have been filed.
posted by spamandkimchi at 6:17 PM on December 9, 2018 [3 favorites]

How much noise am I in for?

Lots. Construction is inherently noisy, it just is. It won't be noisy all the time (if nothing else, I've never known a large construction project that didn't have to stop and start a bit) but sometimes it will be noisy because people will be cutting and fastening material, and that's loud. It just is, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. It doesn't matter what kind of building it will be, they all make a lot of noise going up.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:22 PM on December 9, 2018 [4 favorites]

Be prepared for some rough language, too. Honestly, having an excuse to make loud noises and swear a lot is one of the best things about construction. I get that it's annoying for neighbors though, my sympathies.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:30 PM on December 9, 2018

Loud enough that you might want to consider joining a co-working space or camping out at a coffee shop for the duration of the construction. And buying some ear plugs. (Painfully loud.)
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:00 PM on December 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

I would be more concerned about flooding, depending on what end of town you're on. The further West (also North), the more of an issue it is. There are now maps based on Sandy that show where the deepest flood areas are. A *significant* amount of new construction is on top of flood zone areas.

I lived in Hoboken for 11 years (I still miss it so much!) and was shocked to see that my old condo on Garden between 1st and Newark flooded out so badly because is was downhill from Washington Street. One of the oddities of Hoboken is that the sewer lines are also connected to water overflow basins, so that water that ends up overflowing is more than just rain...

Construction in Hoboken is loud, but it's disturbingly fast. Also, you unfortunately will have to plan for the impact the construction will have on parking (if you have a car). Those evil red and white temporary suspended parking signs are no joke. In the meantime, you can call the permit office at City Hall and find out what is planned for the lot. Just give them the address.
posted by dancinglamb at 5:16 AM on December 10, 2018

I'd also be worried about vibrations. On the off chance it's not noisy there will be a lot of things that will make your building vibrate occurring. The soft rumbling of trucks making everything in my house rattle was worse for me than loud noises, just the ever present rumbling from 7am until late afternoon. I think if I'd lived near construction even a week longer than I had I'd have had a breakdown and this was just a house being built next door to me. Also don't forget street blockages, extra traffic and utilities going down as they connect things up oh and the dust. So much dust & mud.
posted by wwax at 8:48 AM on December 10, 2018