Williamsburg resident Ed Roth says obnoxious vibrations and loud noise are coming from his neighbor, the Brooklyn Barbell Club at 221 North 8th Street.
Known for its Olympic weightlifting, Roth, who lives in the brick condo building that shares a wall with the gym, said he could feel people pumping iron as early as 7 a.m.
“I’m all about fitness, but this is a disturbance and I’d like to see it go,” said Roth, who recently found out the health club does not have the proper permits.
According to Jeff Mulligen, executive director of the Board of Standards and Appeals, the board must receive applications for special permits to legalize the operation of a gym. “At this time, we have not received a application from them,” Mulligan said.
Gloria Chen, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Protection, said that the building had also received a violation for occupancy contrary to that allowed.
However, Mulligan added that many health club operators did not often realize that they needed a permit to manage a health facility and were in violation of the rule.
“We didn’t realize it was an issue and we don’t want it to be an issue,” said club co-owner Samantha Orme, who stressed that the organization is currently working with the DOB to amend their certification of occupancy and any other necessary legal ramifications.
As for the noise complaints, Orme said she was sympathetic to residents near the facility. Since the opening of the gym, Orme said special padding and rubber floors had been added to the weightlifting areas to make it less loud when clients release dumbbells.
However, she added “it’s not illegal to make noise in the day time.”


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