The Drake Group and The Greif Group, developers of The Dakota, a condominium development located at 3631 N. Halsted, extended an offer last week to Circuit Nightclub, 3641 N. Halsted, to pay for and install a double insulated wall inside the south brick wall of the nightclub that borders their property.
This overture is The Dakota's contribution to help Circuit with its ongoing work to sound-proof its building, after Dakota neighbors had caused the club problems with the city by complaining about the noise. The club was there long before the Dakota was developed.
'We are committed to a favorable resolution of ongoing sound issues with Circuit,' said Tom Drake, owner, The Drake Group. 'Today's gesture is made in the spirit of goodwill to continue to pave the way for better relations between current and future Dakota residents and Circuit,' said Greg Greif, owner The Greif Group.
Following hearings before the city's liquor commission in July, 2002, the parties have been meeting monthly. Simultaneously, Circuit has engaged sound experts and engineers to study ways to sound proof the nightclub. Participants of these meetings have included the developers, Dakota residents, owners of Circuit, and 46th Ward Ald. Helen Shiller.
Plans and work to sound proof Circuit's dance floor continue. The club recently completed work on insulating its skylights. The next phase includes the construction of the double-insulation wall and the installation of silencing damper equipment to the building's main exhaust systems. Following this work, Circuit expects to submit plans from its structural engineer to the city's building department for a permit, and upon approval, begin construction to reinforce the building's roof truss structures, followed by the installation of drywall to the roof.
'I think the ongoing dialogue between Circuit, the residents of The Dakota and the alderman's office has been very productive and instrumental in resolving the issue,' said Dennis Sneyers, Dakota resident. 'This whole experience is a good example of business, community and the alderman coming together to work on issues affecting living conditions.'
Circuit is also working on plans that include building a new state-of-the-art dance floor on the north side of its building.