Construction Project Causing High-Pitched Whistling On Staten Island

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A strange sound has broken the silence on Staten Island.

Acoustic decking was installed on the roof last week at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Center and has been creating a noisy tune every time the winds blow.

As the name of the center -- and town -- indicates, the wind blows quite often off the ocean, creating a racket for nearby residents.

"It was like a loud siren. Woooo like loud, real loud," local Al Felline told CBS 2's Vanessa Murdock.

The corrugated metal is supposed to suppress noise, but is exposed to the elements right now while construction is still under way.

"If it's really windy, it's horrible. It goes right through your head," resident Stephanie Beharovic told Murdock.

"Horrible, ear-piercing noise. I had a headache to begin with, but it got much worse," resident Ann Marie Deuble told Murdock.

It seems the northwest winds create the loudest noise, so workers have begun sealing the north side. But residents said they need a quicker fix.

"I tried to cover my windows as much as I can and turn up my TV and it still penetrates through," Ocean Breeze resident John Johnson told Murdock.

"Cover it up, put a tarp over it or something. They have to do something, it's ridiculous," Beharovic said.

Crews are working overtime to quiet the sometimes unbearable noise. The roof should be completed by mid-November and that will go a long way toward solving the problem.

The New York City Department of Design and Construction told CBS 2 that they sincerely regret the annoyance and that the building will be completely closed to the elements by early December.

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