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.

Philly YIMBY’s recent site visit revealed that construction is wrapping up at a three-story single-family rowhouse at 1537 South Bambrey Street in Grays Ferry, South Philadelphia. The structure rises on the east side of the block between Dickinson and Tasker streets, spanning a footprint of 518 square feet. The structure’s prominence above its predominantly two-story neighbors means that its roof deck offers relatively open views of the skylines of Center City and University City. Permits list Standard Development LLC as the owner, Maher Abdelaal as the design professional, and Clifford Lasky of BFR Construction LLC as the contractor. The total construction cost is listed at $241,000, with $212 for general construction, $12,000 for plumbing work, $9,000 for mechanical work, and $8,000 for electrical work.