Original Coverage & Source Attribution: ny1.com
Forest Hills Stadium will be allowed to continue hosting concerts under a legal settlement that caps the venue at 28 shows a year and establishes new rules intended to reduce disruptions for nearby residents.
The agreement resolves pending litigation involving Tiebreaker Productions, which operates events at the stadium; the West Side Tennis Club, which owns the venue; and the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, a community group that owns surrounding private streets.
The settlement includes a curfew for loud music, active noise monitoring and a designated route for concertgoers arriving at and leaving events to minimize street closures.
Tiebreaker Productions also will make payments to the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation for each show, along with a one-time upfront payment. A portion of the money will go toward restoration and beautification projects.
The terms are set to remain in place through 2040. The 28-concert annual limit is roughly in line with the number of shows the venue typically hosts.
Some residents welcomed the agreement, saying they hoped it would ease tensions over the stadium’s place in the neighborhood.
“I hope the fervor dies down and people can continue and realize this is a good addition to the neighborhood,” said Nate, who lives three blocks away.
Chris Roberts, a Forest Hills resident, questioned whether the new rules would satisfy critics.
“I mean if that keeps people from complaining then great, but I tend to be cynical that that is actually going to happen,” Roberts said.
Sarah Livingston, another Forest Hills resident, said the limits on concerts and payments to the community could help address concerns.
“I think with limiting the shows and the curfew there is really little to complain about, and if they are going to give back to the community that’s great,” Livingston said.
In a statement, the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation said it looked forward to a better relationship with the stadium.
“With the divisiveness of the lawsuits now behind us, we look forward to building a constructive working relationship with the Stadium and are proud to usher in this new chapter for our community,” the organization said.
Tiebreaker Productions said the settlement would protect the venue’s future.
“This agreement preserves the Stadium’s future and directly supports the neighborhood we are so lucky to call home,” the company said.
The West Side Tennis Club said reaching the agreement required “patience and constructive dialogue from all sides.”
“We are grateful to our members as well as the Forest Hills community for their patience and engagement throughout this process,” the club said.
Nate said he believed the settlement struck a balance between residents who oppose concerts and those who see value in the venue.
“I think it’s been a fair resolution,” he said. “If you live right here, you don’t want it. If you live a couple blocks away or you’re a business owner in the area, you want it.”
