Neighbours have had enough of incessant humming from Bridgeport Plaza’s backup generator

A generator in a shopping plaza has prompted a group of neighbours to call on the city to make bylaw changes. CTV’s Ashley Bacon explains why.

People who live near the Bridgeport Plaza in Waterloo are fed up with constant humming from the building’s backup generator.

Kristen Jones, who lives on Brighton Lane, said it started on Aug. 29.

“You can hear this constant humming, even from our kitchen, you can kind of feel the vibration sometimes of the backup generator,” she said.

Tara Stevens is also frustrated with the incessant buzzing which her family hears 24 hours a day.

“Getting woken up through the night, not being able to fall asleep because of the noise,” she explained. “[My daughter’s] room is on the side of our house too, so having a five-year-old listening to this throughout the entire night is really disruptive.”

“It’s been disruptive for our sleep,” Deanna Mann agreed. “It’s just constant. When we’re at the dining room table, when I’m trying to work from home. Its quite disruptive.”

In an email to CTV News, bylaw enforcement for the City of Waterloo said: “We are aware of the issue and have been monitoring the situation closely. Our understanding is that there is damage to the electrical system at the property, which has required the use of a generator on a temporary basis. We have engaged with the property owner and remain in contact with Enova, who are also aware of the situation.”

Neighbours, however, are tired of the lack of communication from property management.

“We have been patient and now we’re not being patient anymore,” Jones said. “We need action, and we need to know what steps they’re going to take to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”

While stopping the constant hum is their priority, neighbours are also seeking a longer-term solution.

“We would love to have a sound barrier erected at the back of the plaza to prevent the noise pollution,” Mann suggested.

Suzette McCany, another neighbour, wondered if there were alternatives.

“Are there other generator options that are not so loud or smelly? Is there a solar generation that we can work on? Is there another way of powering the plaza?” she asked.

CTV News reached out to First Capital, which is listed as the property management company for the Bridgeport Plaza, for comment. They did not respond by our deadline.