North Shore Beach Club Off to a Great Start

[TheSomers]

We have been to North Shore Beach Club several times this year and are quite impressed. It is better than last year on many different levels. As we are not going out of town over Memorial Weekend, we may be there almost every day as the traffic is much better going from 2nd and Poplar to North Shore.

In any event, we did a short video (link below) on the makeover on a day when we were there last weekend.

http://blog.thesomersteam.com/2012/05/n ... p-in-2012/

Any other opinions - either from those who go to the pool to compare to Arrow Swim Club and those who don't in regards to the management of the exterior (trash, noise, etc) ?

Congrats to Brian so far on the early success!

[ss230653]

I live across the street from the swim club and haven't had any problems so far, but it remains to be seen what the weekdays will be like.

Dealing with Arrow last summer was awful. I had many frustrating text/phone exchanges with the manager, trying to reason with him to turn the music down so I could get up for work in the morning (I should have just called the cops). I had to deal with some really sketchy, trashy people hanging outside my house after club hours, and a fair share of drunk drivers too. We had the worst problems on weeknights between midnight and 3am. It was very, very different from PYT/Piazza, which draws a friendly crowd and is generally no problem at all. Arrow party nights are the only time I've ever felt unsafe living in NL.

I'm a young renter and enjoy the hip neighborhood scene, but Arrow took things too far. I'm hoping that North Shore will have better crowd control and be respectful on weeknights.

If they limit their parties to daytime and weekends, then I wish them luck!

[TheSomers]

I live across the street from the swim club and haven't had any problems so far, but it remains to be seen what the weekdays will be like.

Dealing with Arrow last summer was awful. I had many frustrating text/phone exchanges with the manager, trying to reason with him to turn the music down so I could get up for work in the morning (I should have just called the cops). I had to deal with some really sketchy, trashy people hanging outside my house after club hours, and a fair share of drunk drivers too. We had the worst problems on weeknights between midnight and 3am. It was very, very different from PYT/Piazza, which draws a friendly crowd and is generally no problem at all. Arrow party nights are the only time I've ever felt unsafe living in NL.

I'm a young renter and enjoy the hip neighborhood scene, but Arrow took things too far. I'm hoping that North Shore will have better crowd control and be respectful on weeknights.

If they limit their parties to daytime and weekends, then I wish them luck!

Well, that is great feedback so far. We have gone several times and it has been a super experience. Not a lot of rowdiness (or none) at the pool itself, just a great relaxing scene with folks enjoying themselves. This past weekend the place has been packed as well. Yoga on Saturday morning was a fantastic class as well outside.

[architphil]

They were off to a great start, but it is starting to head downhill. I'm right across the street and, for the most part, things have been much better than last year. However, as the summer rolls along the music is getting louder and the patrons are getting rowdier.

I shouldn't have to listen to their music in my bedroom on a nightly basis. (And really, to the DJ playing right now... Who still plays "Everybody Dance Now" by C+C Music Factory? Even if it was only the intro!)

And also, related to the sidewalk parking thread, the sidewalk in front of my apartment (or anywhere for that matter) is not the parking lot for pool patrons that drive motorcycles!

[architphil]

...And, to be fair, right after I finished typing that last night, at midnight, the music was turned down significantly enough that I couldn't identify the songs but could still here the thump.

[mattruben]

Last year when this was Arrow Swim Club, it was a major nuisance for nearby residents.

I agree that it's been better this year. Manager Brian Nagele has been responsive to reports of problems - more than once he's responded within an hour. And he's clearly worked to prevent problems cropping up in the first place. Being a good neighbor should be the expected norm for any business; but at the same time, I think Brian deserves recognition for making real, significant improvements since taking over the place.

That said, architphil also is correct, based on what we've been hearing from neighbors of late. Noise from inside is sometimes an issue (a sound limiter has been installed, but apparently it's been bypassed by employees on occasion). And in the past couple of weeks we've gotten the first reports of patron-behavior issues from people who live in the surrounding area.

I think this is an important juncture for the club. If North Shore management continues to stay on top of things, it could continue to be a major improvement over last year. But it will take at least as much vigilance on their part now as they exercised earlier in the season, to keep things under control, particularly when it comes to events held on weeknights.

Finally, folks should remember that a couple of factors from its founding make this establishment more of a challenge for the community - and for the management - than it had to be:

(1) It was designed with a pool whose size, shape, and depth make it useless for swimming. The concept originally communicated to the neighborhood was a swim club with more of a bar/restaurant component than the city's other private swim clubs. But the actual design and layout made it a nightclub with no roof and a water lounge in the middle.

(2) As we do with most projects that need zoning variances, and with all new liquor license applications, we originally worked to put conditions on the zoning and on the liquor license. But in this case the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the PA Liquor Control Board, both rejected virtually all of our requested conditions.

Best,
Matt

[architphil]

Thanks for that last bit of info Matt. I always wondered how this got through the zoning committee and figured that it had to have been sold as someplace where you would actually swim. It really is a nightclub with a wading pool, which could be great in the right location where it isn't surrounded by residential on all four sides. I would have loved to have a real pool right across the street to go swim laps every morning.

Anyways, the improvements made by the new management our much appreciated. I just hope that they can keep it under control for the rest of the season.

[Marco]

Just a couple things. Ive seen many people swim laps in this pool on several occasions.Usually early in the AM or later in the day when everyone has left. Secondly, the minimal problems at North Shore are during the weeknights when the pool is being used as a club. Totally different croud. Hardly ever are there problems when it is a members only crowd.

[mattruben]

Just a couple things. Ive seen many people swim laps in this pool on several occasions.Usually early in the AM or later in the day when everyone has left. Secondly, the minimal problems at North Shore are during the weeknights when the pool is being used as a club. Totally different croud. Hardly ever are there problems when it is a members only crowd.

Marco, thanks for the correction on the swimming. I wasn't aware of that. And your comments about different times of day/week are totally consistent with what I am hearing from members and from non-member neighbors too.

Best,
Matt

[seanmhair]

Well, they're having one Tuesday night. July 24th.
Maxim magazine is sponsoring, with two free drinks if you rsvp.
They actually sent me an invite, with the ability to bring five friends, and I'm not even a member.
I am so far from their demo it's hysterical.
Hope they behave

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com ... EzQg%3D%3D