1541 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 22-unit mixed-use development at 2226-34 North Front Street in Norris Square, North Philadelphia. Upon completion, the new building will rise five stories and 55 feet high. A commercial space will be situated on the ground floor and green roof will be located at the pinnacle of the building. The green roof was included in the project to utilize a density bonus that will allow a higher number of residential units. Eight bicycle spaces will also be included in the project. In total, the building will hold 18,277 square feet of space, with construction costs estimated at $2,741,550.