Turner: White Oak Music Hall needs a permanent stage

White Oak Music Hall is pictured. ( Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle ) White Oak Music Hall is pictured. ( Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Image 1 of / 113 Caption Close Turner: White Oak Music Hall needs a permanent stage 1 / 113 Back to Gallery

Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday that the White Oak Music Hall development team will not receive a new temporary permit for its outdoor stage.

Turner's statement suggests that unless the developers get a permanent permit and stage for its outdoor venue, the shows scheduled on that stage after Oct. 5 will not legally be able to be held at the new Near Northside music complex.

READ MORE: Expiring permit casts doubt on White Oak's outdoor concerts

Turner responded at a City Council meeting Wednesday to developers' comments in a Chronicle article in which developer Will Garwood indicated he planned to take down and then re-erect the temporary stage and request another 6-month temporary permit for the structure. The developers previously told the Chronicle that have "eventual plans" to build a permanent stage but planned to operate the temporary stage in the meantime.

Turner made it clear that plan would not work for his administration.

"No one is going to tear down a stage and come back and get a temporary permit," Turner said. "That's not happening.

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"They need to work on a permanent permit and I expect them to take the steps to do that."

Developers submitted plans last week for a permanent stage permit. Plans for such a structure were previously rejected five times for various problems including ingress/egress issues and sanitation facilities, city records show.

Residents who live near the venue at 2915 N. Main have complained about the sound from the outdoor concerts held over the summer on the outdoor stage, dubbed The Lawn. During one show in May headlining the Flaming Lips, the developers received a citation for violating the sound ordinance. Neighbors continue to complain about the window rattling shows.

Resident Mollie Oshman told Council that her house a mile away vibrates during the shows.

READ MORE: White Oak Music Hall opens indoor venues

"We are not unreasonable people. We are not anti-development or anti-music," Oshman said. "The outdoor nature of these venues is problematic. We ask you to enforce the minimum standards to protect us."

She also pointed to the Chronicle article referencing the temporary permit and called the developers' plan evidence that they are "on every level trying to go around the law." Several council members agreed that the practice appeared to be attempting to get around the rules.

Councilwoman Karla Cisneros, who represents the area, said her goal is to help foster a respectful relationship between the developers and the neighbors.

READ MORE: Call log shows complaints from White Oak Music Hall

"Houston is growing and changing," Cisneros said. "We want to make sure that it works for everybody, including people who were there first."

She added that she was disappointed the Chronicle article in Wednesday's paper indicated she did not respond to comment. She said she did not interpret the email sent Tuesday as a request for comment.

Councilman Mike Laster called the music hall "an impressive addition to the neighborhood" but "extremely large and overbearing in that area."

READ MORE: Sturgill Simpson sends his voice over White Oak Music Hall

"I can't imagine how they could have music outside and you not hear it," Laster said. "It continues to baffle me that in a city that is profoundly reasonable with business opportunities, it puzzles me why business operators choose particular operations. Anyone with half a wit of common sense would know this would cause a problem. ... I think you have heard enough goodwill we want to see this neighborhood sustained and owners do well without taking advantage of the neighborhood. Maybe we should make them move in."

Councilman Mike Knox quoted the comment from Garwood about taking down the stage and putting it back up and said that "the attitude of the business that is operating in that neighborhood" should be taken into consideration.

Turner mentioned several times during the council session that the Super Neighborhood that represents the Near Northside supports the White Oak Music Hall. The council and the developers entered into an agreement several years ago, but one stipulation was respecting the sound. The group has been working with the developers to address the concerns of the nearby neighbors.

READ MORE: White Oak Music Hall 'temporary stage' raises questions

"It is important that they be good neighbors," Turner said. "They have to act within the confines of our ordinances and be good neighbors. I've asked HPD to monitor the sound noise out there and take necessary steps to keep the noise level within the prescribed limits. They will take the necessary steps to get permanent permits and not operate on temporary ones ... It's not an open process. I have conveyed that to them.

"It's a situation where they are now there and everyone is going to have to find ways to live together as best as one can."

The temporary stage is part of the White Oak Music Hall complex. The development also includes an indoor venue with two stages and the Raven Tower, a bar and small music venue in a renovated warehouse.