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Entertainment commission reconditions Brick and Mortar permit, orders soundproofing timeline and neighbor phone line
Summary
After years of neighborhood complaints, the San Francisco Entertainment Commission imposed hours limits, an 80 dB sound cap, a contractor timeline and a neighbor contact phone for Brick and Mortar Music Hall, and required submission of an updated security plan and evidence of soundproofing work.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted to recondition the entertainment permit for Brick and Mortar (doing business as Bridal and Mortar) at 1710 Mission Street after hearing more than an hour of testimony from neighbors, police and the venue manager about persistent sound problems.
Commissioners said they would impose a package of enforceable conditions intended to reduce sound intrusion into nearby residences. The conditions include limiting entertainment hours (weekend hours and shorter weekday hours), a new in-venue sound cap of 80 dB at the center of the dance floor, an updated security plan by June 15, a timeline and contract with hard dates for required soundproofing work, a phone line that neighbors can call during events, improvement of front-door and roof sound control, and payment of outstanding citations by the mid-June deadline specified in the motion.
The hearing focused on competing accounts of whether the venue had done adequate mitigation. Jason Perkins, manager of Brick and Mortar, told the commission he had hired acoustic consultants, installed double-sheetrock and damping materials, carried out neighborhood meetings and had “done about four different rounds of soundproofing” while continuing to test and adjust measures. Perkins said he expected the remaining work to be completed within roughly four weeks.
Neighbors said the problem persisted. Alexandria Dietz said she could hear “drums, guitar, the singing, I can hear the whole band inside my living room” (public comment), and Krista Zerman told commissioners her floors and walls “rumble, even on the other side of my building” when the venue holds amplified shows. Several neighbors described vibrations and sleep disruption; one cited missed work because of noise.
Police representatives told the commission that Mission Station had been involved and had discussed capacity and age-limit compliance for some promoted shows. Officer Avery Parker said he had spoken with Perkins about promoter plans and praised Perkins’ openness to dialogue.
Commissioners pressed the manager on outreach and documentation. Commissioner Hyde asked whether West Coast Sound Solutions had provided written recommendations; Perkins said he could forward the consultancy reports and related e-mails. Staff recommended, and the commission adopted, conditions that require a contract for remediation work and specific dates so staff may verify completion and re-test before further extended operations are allowed.
The motion carried after a friendly amendment narrowed an initial staff suggestion that all shows be suspended while work proceeded; commissioners instead adopted a structured hours limit and the timeline requirement. The commission said it expected staff to monitor compliance and return to the body if the measures failed to resolve neighborhood impacts.
The commission recorded affirmative votes; commissioners supporting the motion included Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Hyde, Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Akers and Vice President Joseph. The commission directed staff to report back as the contractor timeline and tests are completed.
