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.

Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that foundation work is in progress at a four-story, six-unit mixed-use building under construction at 2240 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown. The project borders Frankford Avenue to the south, Trenton Avenue to the north, and East Dauphin Street to the east. Designed by Mt. Alto Design + Drafting, the building will offer commercial space at the ground floor and balconies in select units. Permits list Kaps Construction as the contractor and specify a construction cost of $450,000.