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 five-story, 21-unit mixed-use building at 2000 North Front Street in Fishtown, Kensington. The structure will rise at the northwest corner of Front and Norris streets, replacing a dilapidated and boarded-up three-story prewar building. The development will offer 22,992 square feet of interior space, which will include a commercial component. Features include full sprinkling and a roof deck, which will likely offer sweeping skyline views due to the structure’s relative prominence. Permits list Dr. Jerry Ginsberg as the owner, KCA Design Associates as the architect, and Tota Builders, Inc. [sic] as the contractor. Construction costs are specified at $710,000.