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 demolition work is underway at 412 North 2nd Street in Northern Liberties, Lower North Philadelphia. The development will rise between 2nd, Callowhill, and Willow streets in the southeast corner of Northern Liberties, near the Delaware River waterfront and a block north of Old City. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects and developed by National Real Estate Development, LLC, (aka National Development) and The KRE Group, the tower will span 351,927 square feet and hold 397 residential units, 20,431 square feet of retail, and 105 parking spaces. Construction costs are listed at $93 million.