Houston – Some Houstonians living near nightlife hotspots are hoping to see some relief, with recent crackdowns by the Houston Police Department’s Crime Protection Team Club Unit and other local law enforcement partners.
This past weekend alone, officers issued 115 citations across 13 establishments for violations related to noise, parking, and compliance issues.
The establishments are located on 20th Street and Washington Avenue.
There were also two misdemeanor arrests and five bars that were shut down.
For many residents in the Shady Acres neighborhood, the late-night disruptions have turned peaceful homes into sleepless zones.
“It just became impossible,” said Tarana Taylor, a longtime resident who left her home in mid-March. “It was really noisy, and we were calling police. I ended up not sleeping five nights a week, till two, till three, sometimes till four a.m., and I decided that this is really bad for my mental health, and physically I was tired.”
Taylor moved to 21st Street back in 2012, drawn by its quiet charm.
But since bars began popping up on nearby 20th Street in 2020, the calmness she once enjoyed faded. She shared videos showing loud crowds and bass-heavy music.
One photo of a sound meter reads 98 decibels at 10:30 p.m. on a Thursday. For comparison, the city ordinance caps bar noise at 68 decibels during that hour.
“Doesn’t matter if you have white noise on or earplugs because you can actually feel that reverberation in your body,” said neighbor Alyssa Wagoner.
Her husband Niko Letzos and even Alyssa’s mother, Mary, who occasionally house-sits, echo the same concerns.
“I can’t imagine listening to this night after night after night,” Mary said.
Houston City Council Member Sallie Alcorn acknowledged the issue and voiced support for enforcement efforts.
“We need to give residents a better night’s sleep and better quality of life,” Alcorn said. “I think we have some pretty good rules on the books. It’s a matter of having the personnel to enforce them. So I am happy to see these club and bar units go out from HPD.”
As for Taylor, her future in Shady Acres depends on whether the noise level changes.
“If it is quiet and if it’s peaceful, yes, it’s my house and I love my house. Invested so much feelings into this house, now I cannot live here,” said Taylor.
Neighbors are hopeful the city’s public safety initiative targeting bars and nightclubs will making a lasting impact.
“We’re not asking for anything crazy. This is like a normal law in most cities in the country," Letzos said.
Mayor John Whitmire stated that this initiative is about improving quality of life for all Houstonians.
