Loud gatherings continue on South Havana Street

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AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Loud gatherings, street racing and people gunning their engines have been going on for months in Aurora, but now neighbors say there is a new nuisance on the block. Many have reported since around the middle of summer, roughly 50 cars will congregate in a parking lot near East Iliff Avenue and South Havana Street near restaurants and Stampede, a popular music venue.

However, neighbors said the gathering has nothing to do with the venue or the restaurants, but what they do know is every weekend, and sometimes four days a week, the parking lot fills with cars blasting loud music which can be heard for miles.

“I live about three miles away. I hear bass sounds,” said an Aurora resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “I feel bad for people that live in this area because when I pulled over here, it was very, very loud.”

Sometimes, he said it’s not just music he hears.

“We heard gunshots, we heard loud noise, it’s a mix of different things.”

On Sunday night, he captured video of the gathering as it was being dispersed by Aurora Police.

“These were adults,” he said. “I’ve been stared down last night, I shouldn’t have been here in the first place, but the fact is is that it’s an issue that’s repeating over and over.”

This is a sentiment many in the area echoed.

“I have a two-month old so I’m up late at night, so I’m not getting much sleep as it is,” said Nora Killingsworth, who lives nearby. “Now… I am not sleeping at all.”

Other neighbors have reported the gathering will sometimes travel from place to place, blaring their music as they drive around.

“It gets louder and softer, which is why some of us think that it’s moving because it will kind of get really loud and then fade,” said Brenda Lang.

Lorie Rowe said one time they stopped in a park that is close to her house and once the music finally stopped, she thought it was the end of the noise, but learned she was wrong.

“You hear all these cars tearing through the neighborhood. Motorcycles, cars, I mean it’s just, the noise takes an additional 20 minutes to die down because all the cars are dispersing,” Rowe said.

Aurora Police said in 2024, they have made five arrests in this area and have one area watch, but none of these have been noise-related.

Neighbors said they have called police on this, but were told the police are using their resources for more pressing issues in the city.

“I don’t think anybody is taking us seriously,” Lang said.

Rowe added it is not just noise, but one neighbor sent FOX31 images of beer bottles and cans the morning after a large gathering had been in the area all night.

Killingsworth said she also has seen public intoxication when she has ventured to see what was going on.

“I came out here about 6:30 just to see where it was coming from and I found out it was in this parking lot and there was cars lined up with speakers. There was lots of alcohol involved. So all kinds of laws are being broken,” she said.

Rowe said the fact that there is alcohol and driving involved adds another level of seriousness to this issue.

“We are pouring however many people are attending these events, into the streets, very possibly inebriated on whatever level.”

They are hoping as a new police chief gets on board, he can address this, since they don’t anticipate it stopping soon.

“It’s not just a simple noise violation because they’re traveling to other parking lots and hundreds and hundreds of people are being affected by this,” Lang said. “Probably thousands.”

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Rachel Saurer

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