Neighbor's flood lights (Seattle: new home, neighborhood, buy)

[thomasand14th]

Just moved into new home in Seattle, to discover that after dark falls, the neighboring building's floodlights shine into my living room. I approached the bldg manager about re-angling the lights lower or trying spotlight bulbs in place of floodlight bulbs (which I bought) and just got a lot of hostility. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas? (I was super nice when I called & I have already ordered shades...)

[AzDreamer]

I don't know if you can force the neighbor to change, but maybe there is a city ordinance that applies. A call or email to the right city department might help.

Maybe you can plant a fast growing evergreen tree to block the light. There could be a window film that would help. Blackout curtains are another possibility.

[Patron of Wrath]

The problem is that you went to the building manager instead of going to the person with the flood lights. Most people are reasonable, when you show the basic human decency of talking to them. Instead you went straight to the building manager, who was right in being hostile to someone lacking basic social skills

If not being an a$%hole is too tough for you, then I suggest embracing your inner P#$ck and shooting the damn lights out with a BB gun.

[Xanathos]

Patron speaks the truth, at least those last few words. When I lived in Denver, I had this exact same problem. Upon approaching the home's owner about this, he in response put even brighter lights in the sockets. "Mysteriously", every time the guy next door would replace his flood lamps from then on, some neighborhood miscreant would shoot them out with a little BB gun. And when he put a camera up trying to find whoever was doing it, that dastardly BB toting fiend painted the lens with black spraypaint.

He eventually let them go dark.

[PinayKano]

I believe that there is an ordinance within the Seattle City limits which calls for bright exterior lights to have blinds surrounding them so that the light is directed downward instead of outward.

I ran into that issue about 12 years ago when a new building was built nearby with bright exterior lights which lit up the exterior of their building and the driveway / street behind their building. The blinds (for lack of a more technical term) around the light work well to keep the light from spilling over onto adjacent properties.

Check with the Department of Planning and Development (DPD). They used to call themselves the DCLU.

[Patron of Wrath]

You could also try talking to your neighbor. Here is your verbiage, "Hey Bob, love what you've done with the lighting, but unfortunately those (point) ones are shining directly into my bedroom at night. My girl/boyfriend finds it a bit awkward as it forces him/her to actually see me during the making of the sexy time (wink wink). Would you mind angling them down a bit? Thanks Bob, on behalf of me and Sarah/Sean, have a great day!"

[southking500]

There's a great new invention that might help:
designview Cut-to-size 37.25 In. x 78 In. White 6 Mil Room Darkening Vinyl Roller Shades - 37-3010-01 at The Home Depot

[PinayKano]

Originally Posted by southking500

There's a great new invention that might help:
designview Cut-to-size 37.25 In. x 78 In. White 6 Mil Room Darkening Vinyl Roller Shades - 37-3010-01 at The Home Depot

Hey, that's a good idea. However, before you buy the shades, check with the offending neighbor to make sure they will pay for them.

[PinayKano]

Originally Posted by Patron of Wrath

You could also try talking to your neighbor.

Agreed...that should always be the first step.

I wish that approach would have worked with the building I mentioned earlier. However, they were not open to any suggestions.

[AlohaHuey]

Is this a commercial or residential building that has the floodlights?

If it's a commercial building, I wouldn't expect much cooperation with your complaint and blinds are your best bet. Perhaps you should expect some light pollution living close to a commercial building?