1539 South Bambrey 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.

The tower at Riverwalk South at 60 North 23rd Street is approaching its full height of 362 feet, while installation of the glass and metal cladding has commenced. Designed by Gensler and developed by PMC Property Group, the Riverwalk complex will bring 711 new residential units to the neighborhood, with the south tower holding 380 apartments. The south tower now rises 21 stories above ground, with just 11 floors left to the roof, as concrete work has been progressing faster as the weather gets warmer. Center City West will see a great skyline boost once the 32-story concrete structure rises to its pinnacle.