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.

Permits have been issued for the construction of a four-story single-family residence at 2052 Blair Street in East Kensington. The new structure will rise on a 1,200-square-foot lot located on a block bound by Dreer Street, Trenton Avenue, East Susquehanna Avenue, and Blair Street. Designed by Forma Architects LLC, the building will span 3,368 square feet and feature a garage, basement, rear decks at the second and fourth floors, and a roof access stair bulkhead. Optimal Construction Group LLC is listed as the contractor.