Click to play the interview
Click to play the sound bite
Click to play the sound bite
Click to play the sound bite
Whenever I get the chance to bike over to the North End, I take it. In addition to the amazing restaurants and bakeries it’s so close to the Boston Harbor and nothing calms me down like the water’s edge (and an espresso, some gelato, and biscotti). Apparently, I’m not alone in this line of thinking. Andrea, a resident of the North End, likes to escape the hustle and bustle of her neighborhood when she can and often finds herself on these peaceful shores, painting.
I can’t remember the North End ever being quiet. I think many of its residents will agree with me here. For starters, it’s super touristy and trust me, very little is louder than a tourist. Additionally, in this neighborhood, you’ve got Hanover Street, which is filled with brimming with popular Italian eateries; it’s divided by Interstate 93, it’s backyard is an active harbor, and it is prime real estate, which makes it a developer’s dream—hence the incessant construction.
Andrea reveals more about community noise in her community sound portrait podcast. You can listen to her full interview, which are the first three sound clips under her main photo.
Name: Andrea
Occupation: Client Services
What Boston Neighborhood do you live in: The North End
How loud would you rate your neighborhood: 7-8, depending on the season
Actual Noise Level: 55 dBA by the harbor and 72.2 dBA near her home
Tell us more about the noise you encounter on a daily basis:
I work at a small printing firm at the design center. The copy devices are going all day and resonate throughout the office. I walk from the north end to the design center but I have pretty much given up on the walk in the morning due to the construction along northern and seaport avenue which is unbearably loud and very dirty. My apartment is on the top floor so during the summer if I open my windows I get the din of air conditioners. Weekend rooftop parties and festivals make some weekends pretty noisy also. My building is old and the partition walls are not the best so I can hear my neighbor doing minimal tasks.
