1825 Diamond 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 new residential development has been approved at 1832-North-Van-Pelt-Street in Cecil B. Moore, North Philadelphia, where permits have been issued for the construction of a three-story, three-unit attached apartment building. The project will rise upon a currently vacant lot on a rowhouse-lined residential block. Total construction area is listed at approximately 4,484 square feet. The property is owned by Ranya Investment LLC, with Stuart Rosenberg Architects responsible for the designs and Ascent Design and Builder LLC listed as the contractor.