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.

Permits have been issued for the construction of a three-story multi-family building at 1639-41 Germantown Avenue in Olde Kensington, Philadelphia. The project site is located along Germantown Avenue near Turner Street, within a mixed-use corridor that includes residential and commercial zoning designations. The development replaces an existing parcel with a new attached structure designed for multi-family occupancy. KCA Design Associates is the architect. Tota Builders, Inc. is listed as the contractor. The property is owned by Framework Flats LLC.