6044 Chestnut Avenue

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, 15-unit apartment building at 3838-52 Pechin Street in Manayunk, Northwest Philadelphia. The development will replace an overgrown lot at a hilltop site at the east side of the block between Ridge Avenue and Hermit Street. Designed by 3GHC Architects and Ruggiero Plante Land Design, the project will span 11,790 square feet and will feature parking for six vehicles. Permits list 2nd Story Renovations as the contractor and a construction cost of $2 million.