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.

A recent submission to Philadelphia’s Civic Design Review committee outlines a proposal for an eight-story, 188-unit mixed-use development planned at 1527 Callowhill Street in Franklintown, Lower North Philadelphia. The new building will replace an existing parking lot situated at the northeast corner of Callowhill Street and North 16th Street. Developed by Omega Home Builders and designed by Designblendz Architecture, the project will span 208,000 square feet, ground-floor retail, parking for 24 cars and 63 bicycles, and a green roof.