351 West Queen 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.

Philly YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that foundation work is in progress at 3151 Market Street in University City, West Philadelphia. The development rises on the north side of Market Street between North 30th and North 32nd streets, with John F. Kennedy Boulevard to the north. Designed by Gensler and developed by Brandywine Realty Trust, the building will rise 226 feet and 14 stories and will span 495,000 square feet. The structure will house office and laboratory space, as well as retail on the ground floor.