4233 Chestnut 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 three-story, mixed-use building at 2206 North 2nd Street in Norris Square, North Philadelphia. The structure will replace a vacant lot situated on the west side of the block between West Susquehanna and West Dauphin streets. The building will rise from a 1,000-square-foot footprint and will feature 3,960 square feet of interior space, comprised of two residential units and a commercial space. The development will feature full sprinkling. The roof deck will likely provide sweeping vistas, given a near-total lack of taller buildings nearby. Permits list Adeline Kupa as the owner, Paul Dietz as the design professional, and Qazim Kupa as the contractor. Construction costs are specified at $175,000.