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.

Construction is progressing quickly on the six-story, mixed-use structure at 3700 Lancaster Avenue in University City. The building, which is part of the multibillion-dollar uCity Square megaproject, will rise on an angled lot that was formerly home to the University City High School. The development will add 463 residential unit and retail to the growing Lancaster Avenue and University City. The structure will hold 304,907 square feet of residential space and 13,856 square feet of retail space. Plans also call for 157 parking spaces for residents’ use.