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.

As universities across Philadelphia and the country as a whole return to in-person learning, the University of Pennsylvania marked the occasion with the opening of one of the largest new dormitory buildings to be built in the city in years. As its name alludes, New College House West (also known simply as the New College House) is situated on the western fringe of the campus at 201 South 40th Street (alternately 211 South 40th Street or 4000 Locust Street) in University City, West Philadelphia. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the structure rises 165 feet and 13 stories at its highest point. The 250,000-square-foot, $169.5-million structure is built to accommodate around 430 sophomore, junior, and senior students (exact student count varies depending on source, with some citing around 450 beds) while offering ample indoor sunlight, student and public amenities, and outdoor space. Today YIMBY takes an in-depth look at the facility, which opened in fall of last year.