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.

Renderings have been revealed for a large mixed-use building at 150 West Berks Street in Olde Kensington. Designed by Cecil Baker + Partners and developed by Urban Conversions, the structure will stand seven stories tall, with multiple commercial spaces on the ground floor along Berks Street. In total, the building will yield 147,938 square feet of space. The structure will feature 152 residential units, most of which will be located on the upper floors, with two units situated on the ground floor. A partially covered area on the ground level will feature 42 parking spaces.