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, six-unit building at 712 North 34th Street in Mantua, West Philadelphia. The new structure will rise from a vacant lot located just steps away from the intersection of North 34th Street and Mantua Avenue. The building’s ground footprint will span 1,096 square feet and the interior will hold 3,900 square feet of space, which translates to a relatively modest 650 square feet per apartment. The project will feature full sprinkling, a cellar, and a roof deck, which will offer dramatic skyline views given its unobstructed location. Permits list Lina Holdings as the owner, Francesco Zampetti as the design professional, and Eugene Naydovich of Fitler Development as the contractor. Construction costs are stated to total $100,000.