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.

Philly YIMBY;s recent site visit has revealed that construction is complete at Renaissance Estates, a low-rise residential development located at 3320 South 20th Street in Packer Park, South Philadelphia. Developed by Mansion Global, the project consists of 14 four-story townhouses with two-car garages, private elevators, and roof decks offering sweeping views of the skyline. The homes will yield at least 3,200 square feet of space, with three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms.