1543 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.

Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that construction is underway at a 278-unit mixed-use complex at 2157 East Lehigh Avenue in East Kensington. Designed by DesignBlendz, the project will consist of four structures rising between 60 to 75 feet. Building A (01) will rise six stories and span 73,124 square feet, and contain commercial space at the ground floor and 81 residential units, a roof deck, and a small parking garage, with construction costs estimated at $3.5 million. Building B (02) will rise seven stories, span 65,550 square feet, and feature 72 units. Building C (03) will rise six stories, hold 60 residences, span 56,981 square feet, and include a roof deck and a garage, though it will not offer commercial space on the ground floor, and cost $3.5 million to build. Matching the other structures, Building D (04) will also reach a height of six stories and include a garage and 65 residential units, though it will not house any commercial space. In total, the building will hold 71,437 square feet of space, and cost $3.5 million. The entire complex will offer parking for 132 cars and 96 bicycles.