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 five-story, ten-unit apartment building at 721-23 North 16th Street in Fairmount, Lower North Philadelphia. The development will be situated on the east side of the block between Swain and Brown streets, in an area that may also be described as Francisville. The project will replace a pair of three-story, apparently well-maintained prewar rowhouses and will hold a total of 11,048 square feet of interior space, which translates to a sizable average of 1,100 square feet per unit. The building will feature full sprinkling, a cellar, and a roof deck, which, due to the building’s prominent height, promises to offer sweeping skyline views. Permits list Mountfair Assoc. as the owner and Regis Development Corp. as the contractor. Construction costs are specified at $725,000.