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Constant Construction Rattles Some Williamsburg Parents

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Construction has been booming in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for some time, but it has resulted in a big headache for some mothers in the neighborhood.

As CBS 2's Vanessa Murdock reported Wednesday, cement trucks, hammering and a whole lot of construction has become part of the daily routine along the waterfront in Williamsburg. The noise is disturbing some small children, mothers said.

"All of a sudden, they start yelling -- the guys, like, at each other -- and there's this big noise, it's like a horn goes off," said resident Vanessa Bellutti. "And that's when he, like, stirs."

She said the noise level is so high inside the high rise where she lives that precious Angelo, who is just 15 months old, sleeps better outside.

Mary Kay Daily said she takes care of her 5-month-old granddaughter, Olivia, and deals with the same issues.

"All around our apartment, it's just constant noise -- constant noise," Daily said.

Taking a walk is also a challenge, she added.

"I'll eventually go into the back streets just to get off Kent Avenue because it's so noisy," she said.

But others said the construction will all be worth it, given the continuing transformation of Williamsburg. Back in 2000, the west side of Kent Avenue near North 8th Street was an undeveloped and overgrown thicket, and the waterfront just to the west was of interest to few.

"A community that turned its back on the waterfront for generations is now rediscovering and enjoying it," said Roland Lewis, chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance.

Lewis said all the noise will end up being worthwhile.

"I'm sure it's an inconvenience, but at the end of the day, a whole new neighborhood is being created," he said.

Luidan An moved to the area four years ago, and said the transformation has been incredible. But while her 1-month-old son, Tate, sleeps right through the construction, she is concerned with what is in the air.

"We do keep the windows closed; it does get pretty dusty around here," she said.

Gabrielle Biechner, the mother of 1-year-old Harry, also had some concerns.

"There's a lot of construction on the side streets, which is a little bit difficult because the scaffolding freaks me out a little bit," Biechner said. "But it's easy enough to avoid, and it's exciting that our area is getting built up."

Blond and blue Harry might be holding his own son by the time Williamsburg is completely transformed. The consensus is that it could take decades.

And as for now, despite construction concerns, the noise and the dust, not a single mother who spoke to CBS 2 for this story said she plans to move.

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