>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.

Permits have been issued for the construction of two multi-family residential buildings at 2130 North 2nd Street and 2132 North 2nd Street in Norris Square, North Philadelphia. Designed by Nicholas Coulter of KCA Design Associates, LLC, the two structures will be situated on the west side of the block between Diamond Street and West Susquehanna Avenue. 2130 North 2nd Street will span a 917-square-foot footprint and will rise three stories and include three units. The building will include 3,688 square feet of floor space and will feature a basement and a roof deck. EV Development LLC is the contractor. Construction is expected to cost $252,000. Fewer details are available for 2132 North 2nd Street, which will rise from a 1,000-square-foot footprint and will also feature a basement and a roof deck. 2nd Street Developers LLC is the owner for both properties.