Noise & Air Quality E-Designation, Queens, NY

Equity was retained to assist with Air Quality and Noise E-Designation for a proposed 12-story mixed use building in Queens, NY.

An E-Designation (E-623) was placed on the Subject property as part of the 31^st Street and Hoyt Avenue Rezoning (CEQR# 21DCP117Q). The original Noise E-Designation required a minimum 40 dB(A) window/wall attenuation for all building facades in order to maintain an interior noise level not greater than 45 dB(A) for residential and community facility uses or not greater than 50 dB(A) for commercial office uses.

The Subject Property is located directly adjacent to an elevated rail line in a predominantly residential neighborhood.

Equity prepared a noise investigation protocol outlining the methodologies that would be used to collect noise readings to update the attenuation requirements of the Subject Property. The protocol was approved by OER.

The noise monitoring consisted of two (2) 24-hour readings collected at the Subject Property, one (1) 24-hour reading collected on a neighboring buildings rooftop, and one (1) one-hour spot check collected during each AM, Midday, and PM peak travel periods at street level of the Subject Property.

Based on the results of the monitoring, the site specific attenuation values were requested to be reduced and were approved by both OER and DCP. The E-Designation requires a minimum of 40 dB(A) window/wall attenuation on the first floor of the northern, southern and western facades, 37 dB(A) on the second through sixth floors of the western façade and within 50 feet rom 31^st Street on the northern and southern facades, and 33 dB(A) on all remaining facades in order to maintain an interior noise level not greater than 45 dB(A) for residential and community facility uses or not greater than 50 dB(A) for commercial office uses.

Equity prepared the Air Quality and Noise Remedial Action Plan for review to OER. OER approved the Remedial Action Plan and issued the Notice to Proceed. Upon completion of construction, an Installation Report will be prepared and submitted to OER for approval.