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.

Permits have been issued for the construction of a four-story, 26-unit building at 5840-50 North 13th Street in Fern Rock, North Philadelphia. The structure appears to be a part of Fern Rock Courts, a complex that includes the renovation of two formerly abandoned prewar apartment buildings. The new structure will be attached to the existing building at 5840 North 13th Street. Permits appear to indicate that the total number of units at both the renovated and newly constructed section will be 63, while the renovated building to the south at 5424-38 North 13th Street (not included in the latest permits) will hold 49 residences. Plato Marinakos is listed as the design professional and Philly Dwell LLC is specified as the contractor.