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.

Philly YIMBY’s recsnt site visit has confirmed completion of construction of a four-stoey, five-unit apartment building at 2633 Annin Street in Grays Ferry, South Philadelphia. The development, which replaced a vacant lot on the north side of the block between South 26th and South 27th streets, spans 5,514 square feet and features a roof deck. Permits list GTMO Development as the contractor and specify a construction cost of $400,000.