2442 North Marshall 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.

A recent site visit by Philly YIMBY has revealed no signs of construction at the site of a mixed-use project proposed at 3900 Main Street in Manayunk, Northwest Philadelphia. Designed by SgRA Architecture, the development will include three new buildings spanning 178,619 square feet and holding a total of 120 residential units. The proposal also includes retail space, a 28,803-square-foot basement level with parking for 52 cars, and space for 40 bicycles.