>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.

Aramark, a food service provider, has been based in the Philadelphia area for many years, with the company’s headquarters is located in Center City. Before the its present location at 2400 Market Street by the Schuylkill River, the company was headquartered at 1101 Market Street in Market East. Designed by Varenhorst Architects and Gensler and developed by the PMC Property Group, the new headquarters involved a renovation of an existing structure with a five-story extension built at the top. The renovated building stands nine stories, bringing a modern design to an area where older architecture predominates. The project also includes retail, residential, and office space.