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Commission conditionally grants Live at the RAS permit, orders sound test for Patti LuPone engagement
Summary
Owners of Live at the RAS asked the commission for a place‑of‑entertainment permit but neighbors reported persistent low‑frequency noise; an acoustical engineer showed mitigation plans and an estimated $65,000 retrofit. The commission gave a conditional POE, instructed staff to run a sound check for the first Patti LuPone night and to issue subsequent one‑day permits only after staff verified acceptable sound readings.
Live at the RAS owners Rory Paul and Robert Catanley sought a place‑of‑entertainment permit for their venue at 1000 Van Ness. The hearing turned into an extended technical and community debate over low‑frequency sound transmission into residences above the venue.
Kevin Sarais, the acoustical consultant engaged by the owners, presented test results showing pronounced low‑frequency peaks (about 13–14 dB above ambient near 160 Hz) reaching apartments three floors above. "It's actually pretty bad. It's really bad. It's unacceptable," Sarais said of the measured levels inside Apartment 509. He outlined mitigation steps — QuietRox high‑performance drywall, upgraded sealed doors (STC‑rated), new door seals and an in‑venue sound‑level alarm set to a 98 dB maximum — and estimated the cost at about $65,000. The owners said construction could start within weeks and take roughly a month to complete.
Neighbors testified that opening nights had transmitted snare, kick and bass into living rooms and that earlier operators had left because of similar problems. Musicians and community advocates countered that the RAS Room is a cultural asset and urged limited interim performances while mitigation is completed.
Given the technical evidence and the owners’ remediation plan, the commission took two steps: it instructed staff to administer a pre‑show sound check for the first Patti LuPone performance and to issue a one‑day conditional permit for that performance only if the staff‑conducted test and neighbor verification met the commission’s standard; and it conditionally approved the full place‑of‑entertainment permit contingent on completion of required sign‑offs and the long‑term attenuation work. Commissioners emphasized that additional one‑day permits would be issued only after staff verified compliance with the agreed sound test conditions.
