Alderman Troutman Vows: To Save 63rd Street El--CTA says ridership is up

Ald. Arenda Troutman (20th) said she is not in favor of taking down the El at 63rd Street and Cottage Grove and will oppose any attempt to dismantle that station for any reason including economic development.

"I am not in favor of taking down that El," Troutman said in response to the Rev. Dr. Leon Finney, head of The Woodlawn Organization (T.W.O.) who said it is being discussed by Woodlawn groups.

"The El (at 63rd St. and Stony) that was taken down on the East side was not taken down without a lot of opposition. I was in support of the East Side because we don't shop as a community like we used to with all the malls."

Troutman said 63rd Street lay dormant for years …