Mosquito gone from Gallery Place?

Public Spaces

"Mosquito" gone from Gallery Place?

by David Alpert • September 28, 2010 1:10 pm

Reader Amin writes,

Not sure if this indicates a long-term change, but as I was taking the escalator down to the Metro today at 7th and H at Gallery Place, I heard classical music pumping through speakers. And over the last week or two, I haven't heard the "mosquito" in the evenings. Maybe the owners of Gallery Place have quietly listened to criticism and switched their anti-loitering tactics.

Mayeb they listened to Jamie, Rich, Penn Quarter Urbanist, and JJJJ, all of whom suggested that. Have you noticed?

12 comments

Tags: Chinatown, DC, downtown DC, public spaces, youth

Teens and young adults aren't mosquitoes (Sep 2, 2010)
Blank wall of the day (Mar 16, 2008)
Ask Metro: Broken PIDs, bus fareboxes, and bikes (Sep 28, 2010)
Charleston (Aug 16, 2007)
Can CityCenter and Gallery Place become one retail district? (Oct 25, 2010)

David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington and Greater Greater Education. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.

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Get some Mahler up in that joint. That'll learn the hooligans and loiterers real good.

by aaa on Sep 28, 2010 1:23 pm • link • report

Two words to send the thugs running home with their hands over their ears: "Air Supply."

by Casey Anderson on Sep 28, 2010 1:25 pm • link • report

What kind of classical music is it? If it's good, I might linger there myself.

by Steve S on Sep 28, 2010 1:29 pm • link • report

Yeah, you never know who's listening where ... The other day on a friend's facebook wall I happened to ask someone who'd know (i.e., a lawyer who handles restaurant accounts) if it was legal to set up sandwhich signs (the folding placards) on the sidewalk ... as I'd a local restaurant doing it often. He responded 'no' and I've yet to see the sign again! And this was on a fairly private chat on a friend's posting on Facebook ...!

by Lance on Sep 28, 2010 1:36 pm • link • report

When I first heard about this, I tested the 17.4 khz signal on my computer. I couldn't hear a thing but my 2 y.o. son in the next room woke up screaming. Since then I've judiciously avoided Gallery Place. This is a shame because we would go to Chinatown all the time to eat and do some shopping on the side. Now hopefully it's safe to go back. Any confirmation from the GP ownership? I won't go back until I get positive confirmation this torture device is permanently gone. Rule #1 of business: don't scare away your *paying* customers.

by Smoke_Jaguar4 on Sep 28, 2010 1:47 pm • link • report

I have removed an inappropriate comment. Please keep the dialog civil and respectful of all. Thank you.

by Matt Johnson on Sep 28, 2010 2:21 pm • link • report

Let's hope they don't play Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries". It's dangerous!

by Eric Fidler on Sep 28, 2010 2:42 pm • link • report

The mosquito was set to be heard by all people, and wasn't as loud as the breaks on the METRO buses. It has been turned off due to the media's inaccurate reporting which led to generally stupid comments in a gazillion blogs.

by In the Know on Sep 28, 2010 3:12 pm • link • report

It's still there as of late last week. Someone who was visiting town specifically asked to see it. (It did not appear to be turned on, or, neither of us could hear it.)

by Kriston Capps on Sep 28, 2010 4:44 pm • link • report

I visited D.C. on the 21st, and made a stop at the entrance of where the mosquito was said to be, and heard nothing. I'm 19, so hopefully it isn't a case of bad hearing on my part...and for the record, I prefer classical music (that I happen to listen to regularly) over the mosquito.

by Eastern on Sep 28, 2010 8:09 pm • link • report

RE: Sidewalk sandwich signs. They are allowed on the first three feet adjacent to the building frontage in which the business occupies, as long as they do not adversely restrict passage upon the sidewalk. This is a ruling not the law as the actual laws and authority that refer to these signs are still with DCRA, that were not transferred to DDOT when the public space responsibility was moved years ago. DDOT is working on the regs, but first needs the authority to be transferred.

by Scott on Sep 29, 2010 8:34 am • link • report

Back in the early 90s, Portland OR also went with a classical music solution for the North Park area downtown, in an effort to deter youth gatherings. Turns out the classical music didn't deter anything; the kids found it soothing, especially transitionals and homeless - apparently it helped take the edge off street living. I don't know if Portland subsequently pulled or kept the music.

by Bayard on Sep 29, 2010 9:25 am • link • report