1500 South 25th Street

Urban development is a delicate balancing act, and sometimes we must say goodbye to cherished local destinations in order to make way for a plan that is ultimately more beneficial to the community and to the city at large. One of such trade-offs is slated to occur at 7619 Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy, Northwest Philadelphia, where the Trolley Car Diner is set to meet the wrecking ball, to be replaced by a six-story, mixed-use residential development designed by Morrissey Design. Although the charming chrome, neon, mural, and freestanding trolley of the diner will be missed, the proposal at hand makes for more effective use of the site, bringing significant residential density within a two0-block walk of the Mount Airy Station of the SEPTA Regional Rail and replacing the auto-centric restaurant with pedestrian-friendly retail.

A multi-family residential project is planned at 431 North Daggett Street in Overbrook, West Philadelphia. The building will rise on a consolidated parcel located mid-block between West Girard Avenue, North 65th Street, and Callowhill Street. Construction is expected to cost $500,000, including general building and excavation work. The development is led by Finch Development LLC, with design work handled by Unfound Object Architecture + Design.