3026 Titan 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 a four-story, three-unit mixed-use building at 261 South 60th Street in Cobbs Creek, West Philadelphia. The development will replace a two-story prewar building situated on the east side of the block between Irving Street and Manning Street. The retail space at the ground floor will contribute to the commercial corridor along the street, and three residential units will be located above. The structure will rise from a 900-square-foot footprint and will contain 4,472 square feet of interior space. Permits list Raphael Realty LLC as the owner, JOs. Serratore & Co. Architect Inc. as the designer, and Meir Badush of Northeast Renovations LLC as the contractor. Construction costs are listed at $630,000.