2220 Wilder 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 mixed-use building at 4550 Mitchell Street in Roxborough, Northwest Philadelphia. Designed by Coscia Moos Architecture, the new building will rise four stories tall, with a commercial space on the ground floor and 38 apartments. The development will span 41,942 square feet and will include 16 bicycle spaces and a roof deck with a green roof, which will be accessible through two bulkheads. Construction costs are estimated at $3.2 million.