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.

Parkway Corporation, the proprietor of multiple parking lots and other real estate in Center City and beyond, seeks to redevelop a parking lot, likely in conjunction with a partner, at 26-30 South 21st Street in Center City West. The 26,127-square-foot, L-shaped site is bounded by 21st Street to the east, Van Pelt Street to the west, and Ludlow Street to the north. According to Parkway documentation, the site is situated within a CMX-4 mixed-use district and can accommodate 130,635 square feet of built space at a floor-to-area ratio of 5:1, or 313,524 square feet of space at an FAR of 12:1. With the right design, and height limits notwithstanding, the site may accommodate a development rising around 30 or so stories.