Massachusetts Street residents put up with noise
Alex Smith knew what she was getting into when she moved into her apartment above Aimee's Coffee Shop on Massachusetts Street. She knew there would be music from the bars and from street musicians on every corner. But she didn't know those musicians would be bad at what they did.
"If someone has talent, that is the least of the city's problems," said Smith, Lawrence resident and employee at Aimee's. "But beggars who aren't talented don't help. You walk by and it sounds horrible."
Many residents who live in the apartments above the shops on Massachusetts Street don't mind the noise on weekends. But the noise doesn't stop after the weekends. The guitars, singing and turntables are disrupting their sleep during the week as well.
"We've always had problems with that type of thing downtown," said Kim Murphree, spokesman for the Lawrence Police Department.
The musicians who enjoy playing music after dark have a different point of view. Shawn Bedient, Lawrence resident, plays his guitar outside the Love Garden every night from about 9 p.m. until 2:30 a.m.
"When people do get upset they usually just say, 'Hey, man, people are trying to sleep,'" Bedient said. "The police usually just drive on by."
Bedient does, however, modify his act to appease the residents.
"I try to sing before midnight. I don't jam out too late," he said. "Usually it's the singing that bothers people. I can play my guitar real quiet and that doesn't bother anyone."
The music can also be linked to downtown Lawrence's satmosphere.
"If you had talented street musicians it would creaty an atrsy, chic atmosphere," said William Czardeaux, Lawrence resident. "But there are good musicians and there are bad musicians."
Czardeaux adds that panhandlers that play music don't add to the atmosphere.
"It's all about disfunctional people," he said. "You don't know where your money is going."
This fall, renters should be wary of their neighborhood. The bar scene on Massachusetts Street can be inviting, but you may be asking for numerous sleepless night. Smith adds that you can't be too cautious when choosing an apartment.