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.

Philly YIMBY’s recent site visit reveals that construction work is nearly complete at a three-story, five-unit apartment building at 2710 Ridge Avenue in Brewerytown, North Philadelphia. The development is located on the southwest side of the block between North 27th Street and West Glenwood Avenue. Designed by KCA Design Associates, the structure spans 5,850 square feet and features a basement, full sprinkling and a roof deck. Permits list CRBN LLC as the contractor and a construction cost of $800,000.