>4080 Olive 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.

As reported in the past, the stretch between 21st and 23rd streets in western Center City West will soon be elevated with many new towers in the 300-400-foot range. While many of the new proposals were released recently, 2222 Market Street, which was revealed last year, could be on its way up soon. Developed by the Parkway Corporation, the office building will rise to a height of 318 feet and 19 stories and will be mostly leased by the law firm Morgan, Lewis and Bockius.