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 has revealed that construction has still not started at a six-story mixed-use building with ground-level retail and 107 residential units at 23 West Girard Avenue in Olde Kensington, though permits had been issued last November. We noted no signs of demolition nor construction at the property, with a Speedy Mart convenience store still apparently in operation. Designed by JKRP Architects and developed by Girard Real Estate LLC, the project will span 104,160 square feet and will feature parking for 28 cars and 47 bicycles, full sprinkling, and a roof deck, which, given the building’s future prominence over the surroundings, will likely offer panoramic views of the Center City skyline. Permits list Benchmark Construction Group Inc. as the contractor and a construction cost of $21.5 million.