Game on for Icon Lounge concerts: Sound levels in compliance, city says

A downtown nightclub has brought itself into compliance with Sioux Falls noise rules after being put on notice that concerts there were creating a nuisance for neighbors.

City health officials and the ownership group of the Icon Lounge near Sixth Street and Main Avenue said Monday the soundproofing upgrades undertaken by the nightclub in recent weeks have succeeded in lowering the sound levels that reach a neighboring apartment by as many as 15 decibels.

More: City Council hears impassioned defense of Icon Lounge in noise dispute

The Sioux Falls Health Department was on site during a series of musical performances at Icon Lounge Friday night where decibel readings were taken both inside and outside the concert hall.

"Those readings come through as compliant," said Alicia Collura, assistant director of the city health department.

Last month, the Sioux Falls Police Department took readings from the neighboring Jones Building, a recently opened apartment complex, that measured as high as 70 decibels.

While Collura didn't say exactly what the readings were Friday night, she said they were in line with the city's residential noise standard that caps sound levels at 55 decibels after 10:30 p.m.

Stacy Newcomb-Weiland, a part of the Icon Lounge ownership group, said the company is pleased with the outcome, though it took about $25,000 worth of soundproofing upgrades there to make it happen, including sealing up windows and doors on the building's east side and installing an acoustic mat on the roof of the building.

Still, she said there are more soundproofing changes planned at the Icon Lounge to ensure the building stays in compliance and give the company more breathing room on show nights.

"We've still got a couple thousand dollars' worth of work we’re going to do just to give us some room for error," Newcomb-Weiland said.

In the meantime, it's business as usual for the Icon Lounge, which will host a DJ and concerts by Twin Peaks and Lot Lizard this weekend.

"Were happy that we've come to a positive conclusion," Newcomb-Weiland said. "It was just an unfortunate set of circumstances."