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.

Philly YIMBY’s recent site visit has noted significant construction progress at Ridge Flats, a five-story mixed-use project rising at 4300-26 Ridge Avenue in East Falls, Northwest Philadelphia. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, the 180,879-square-foot development will contain around 10,000 square feet of retail space, 142 residential units, 117 partially covered surface parking spaces, and a green roof. Permits list Kinsley Construction as the contractor. The construction cost is stated at $30.5 million.