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Divvy Lawsuit: Judge Rules Station Won't Be Moved, Yet

By Kyla Gardner | August 23, 2013 7:04pm
 A Divvy Bike Share station at the Western Brown Line station (File Photo)
A Divvy Bike Share station at the Western Brown Line station (File Photo)
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DNAinfo/Patty Wetli

CHICAGO — A judge ruled a Lakeview Divvy bike-share station that inspired a lawsuit won't be moving from in front of a condo building — for now.

Residents of the three-flat in the 3500 block of North Pine Grove Avenue brought the suit against the Chicago Department of Transportation and Ald. James Cappleman (46th) Wednesday, arguing the recently-installed Divvy station would bring unwanted strangers to their door, among other complaints.

On Friday, a judge dismissed an emergency restraining order that would grant a "10-day standstill" on the station. The case's next hearing is scheduled for late September, said condo resident David Kolin, who brought the suit along with his wife Jeannine Cordero.

The Divvy program, which launched in June and has attracted thousands of riders, will eventually have 400 stations placed throughout the city from which riders can rent bikes.

Among the arguments against station in front of Kolin and Cordero's condo is that it "will bring strangers to our front door at all hours of the night and day," impacting the safety of residents. The station will also devalue property values and is inappropriately placed in a residential area, the suit argues.

The station was installed Wednesday outside the building with no warning or discussion with residents, Kolin said.

"It was built on such an expedited basis," Kolin said Friday. "This lawsuit was brought because we found out 18 hours before they were going to drop it here."

Friday's ruling left him disappointed, but Kolin said he's hopeful CDOT or Cappleman will reach out to him about his concerns.

The suit has drawn criticism and been described as "absurd," and NIMBY-ism.

Kolin said he's found the backlash hurtful.

"It cut us to the quick," he said. "Some of it's pretty harsh."

Kolin said he wants the station moved "just away from our door."

"We’ve lived in this location for 24 years," he said. "I know the neighborhood, I know the location. This isn’t what we signed up for."