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.

A recent site visit by Philadelphia YIMBY has confirmed that construction work has wrapped up at 2100 Hamilton, a ten-story, 27-unit condominium at 2100 Hamilton Street in Logan Square (alternately Baldwin Park or Franklintown). Designed by Cecil Baker + Partners and developed by the Bock Development Group, with Ernest Bock & Sons as the contractor, the glass-clad structure rises 125 square feet tall and spans 25,802 square feet, and offers its residents perks such as a fitness center, underground parking, and a half-acre roof. Floor-to-ceiling windows lend unobstructed views in many directions, while balconies allow for private outdoor space in most units. Permits list a construction cost of $30 million.