DETROIT – Residents who are fed up with noise along the Detroit riverfront shared their concerns and anger with police and Detroit City Council members at a Friday meeting.
Residents said the noise is so bad that many of them are ready to move out. They said the noise people make along Atwater Street is unbearable, even in the middle of the night.
The housing development on the Detroit River is the kind that many people are glad to see. It eliminates the ghost town image, along with Belle Isle's conversion to state control.
But it has created a clash in waterfront usage, and now Detroit police are cracking down.
Cellphone video shows the kinds of scary and deafening problems residents have been dealing with.
"When someone's going 90 mph and you step out, that sure is dangerous," Curtis Winn said.
Winn is an area block captain, and he's angered at spending his nights and weekends calling the police.
"Nutty," he said. "Real nutty. You can't sleep."
Winn and a few dozen other neighbors showed up Friday at the Seventh Precinct to hear from Detroit police about a new program set up specifically to shut down the riverfront rowdiness.
Coming to the Orleans Landing development and Atwater area starting Friday night are 10 extra scout cars, a command post, mounted units, a prisoner processing post and tow trucks.
"We have a plan that is not going to go this weekend to the rest of the summer, but until such time as we know things are going to die down," Detroit police Cmdr. Charles Mahone said.
Friday night was the start of something different, according to DPD. They are trying to restore some order to the area, especially late at night when the Riverwalk closes down.
Police were there to make sure those enjoying the Riverwalk understand people live there, too.
Part of what prompted the increase in security is residents who have been complaining about the situation for years.
"Is this going to help you? A bunch," Mahone said. "Plus, flatbed trucks sitting out there are going to keep people from driving, and $1,500 tickets and getting your car towed will hit your pocketbook really well."
Detroit police said they're also anticipating the problem of the crowd moving the party elsewhere on the waterfront, so they'll be watching the area behind the Detroit post office, as well.