Court Denies City’s Attempt to Lift Injunction in Pine and Spruce Bike Lane Case; Bochetto & Lentz Secures Win for Center City Residents

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Bochetto & Lentz, P.C. has successfully blocked the City of Philadelphia’s efforts to resume work on Pine and Spruce Streets, securing a key courtroom victory on behalf of Center City residents.

In a July 6, 2026 ruling, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Damaris L. Garcia denied the city’s formal request to lift an active injunction. The court-ordered halt, originally issued in August 2025, prevents the Philadelphia Streets Department from eliminating local parking spaces to install “neighborhood loading zones.”

Bochetto & Lentz, P.C., spearheaded by partner George Bochetto, represents the Friends of Pine and Spruce (FOPS). The civic coalition of local homeowners initiated the litigation, arguing that municipal authorities bypassed legal protocols in their attempt to eliminate neighborhood parking spaces. The firm’s dedicated team, including a skilled contract litigation attorney in Philadelphia, continues to hold government entities accountable to strict procedural and contractual standards. 

“This is a very significant ruling in this case,” Bochetto noted to The Philadelphia Inquirer following the court’s decision.

The legal battle escalated after the City Council passed a measure last year attempting to grant the Streets Department unilateral authority over local parking rules, a move city attorneys claimed resolved the dispute. In response, Bochetto & Lentz filed an amended complaint on behalf of FOPS, asserting that the council’s ordinance violated Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act regarding open public meetings. The lawsuit further alleges that the ordinance violated the city charter’s separation of powers by unconstitutionally transferring legislative lawmaking duties to the executive branch.

With Judge Garcia’s order keeping the injunction firmly in place, the core constitutional and procedural challenges to the city’s ordinance are set to go to trial next year.

If you or your civic organization are facing an administrative or municipal dispute, contact Bochetto & Lentz, P.C. to discuss how our trial-ready advocacy can protect your community. You can read more about the ongoing litigation and the court’s recent ruling in The Philadelphia Inquirer.