>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 a four-story mixed-use building with 51 residential units, along with ground-floor commercial space, at 704 East Passyunk Avenue in Queen Village, South Philadelphia. The plan lists a gross floor area of approximately 19,505 square feet. Proposed work includes partial demolition of an existing single-story structure. Project documentation lists P & F Retail Associates L P as the property owner, with building design provided by Assimilation Design Lab LLC.