Five Points residents complain of loud noise coming from nearby bars

The Five Points Neighborhood Association tells ABC-7 bars are ruining the Central El Paso community.

In a statement sent to ABC-7, members say they do not understand why the city created “quiet zones” when nearby bars blast music until 2 a.m.

Quiet zones eliminated railroad crossings in an effort to reduce noise produced by trains. Neighbors specifically complained about the Pershing Inn, Lovebuzz and 5 Points Bistro.

Margaret Estrada has lived in the Five Points area for more than 50 years.

She took ABC-7 crews to her backyard to show how close she lives to the nearest bar.

“I have three bars around my house,” Estrada said. “Three bars going full blast with their music. How can I sleep? How can my husband sleep? And he’s not sleeping here any more because he decided to leave.”

Estrada tells ABC-7 that her husband recently underwent surgery, was frail and couldn’t handle the music across the alley.

“They are just way too noisy,” Estrada said.

Estrada tells ABC-7 there’s other issues as well. She says bar patrons park in their neighborhood.

“I see bras hanging on my pine trees, condoms and women’s underwear on the curbside,” Estrada said.

The homeowner tells ABC-7 she doesn’t feel safe in her own house at night.

“This is Douglas street and it’s one of the main streets in the neighborhood, and it’s wall-to-wall cars at night,’ said Nevena Christi, president of the neighborhood association.

Christi went on to describe neighborhood streets surrounding the bars.

“We end up with packed cars in that cul-de-sac,” she said. “We’ve had two totaled vehicles and six hit and runs. Saturday mornings we end up with beer bottles all over the street and trash.”

Christi lives in the old Pershing movie theater next to the Pershing Inn bar.

Christy tells ABC-7 that they’ve seen everything from people urinating in front of the building to fights. She said the noise levels and the parking are a huge problem.

Bar owners maintain they are following the rules.

“TABC and the police have been out to check our noise levels and every single time they tell us that they are well below the limit,” said Eddie Cepeda, co-owner of the Love Buzz bar.

He said these properties are zoned for commercial use and the Love Buzz lot was a bar for decades before it was vacated. He said they are making every effort to keep in touch with area residents and listen to their issues.

“There’s a lot of business coming in and investing in the neighborhood and there’s going to be growing pains and we’ve given residents our personal numbers with any concerns we can help them with,” Cepeda said.

City Rep Jim Tolbert told ABC-7 that he is already looking into alternate parking space in the area.

Owners of the Pershing Inn sent ABC-7 this statement:

“The Pershing Inn which has been in business at the same location since 1946 has always strived to be a good neighbor. The people who moved into the Pershing Theater and actually live there now have literally made hundreds of noise complaints with the El Paso Police Department. NOT ONCE was the bar been found in violation of any applicable noise ordinance. The bar is and will continue to be an important part of this great neighborhood and hopefully work out any issues that may exist with these neighbors,” said Paul Powers, Pershing Inn owner.