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 five-story, mixed-use building at 322-40 Race Street in Old City, Philadelphia. Designed by OZ Collaborative, the building will be located on the site of the Old First Reformed United Church of Christ at the southeast corner of 4th and Race Streets. The project site currently has an 18th century house classified as significant in the historic district, a pseudo-colonial house classified as non-contributing, a surface parking lot, and open space. Permits list Domus Inc. as the contractor and a construction cost of $10.5 million.