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 three-story single-family rowhouse stands complete at 2023 Oakford Street in Point Breeze, South Philadelphia, as YIMBY’s recent site visit revealed. The building rises from a 600-square-foot footprint and boasts 2,000 square feet of interior space, full sprinkling, and a roof deck that overlooks the Center City skyline. Permits list Oakford2023 LLC as the owner, Paul Dietz as the design professional, and Bekim Daku as the contractor. The total construction cost is listed at $176,000, of which $12,000 apiece is allocated for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.