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 recent site visit revealed no new progress at the site of the DeSimone Tower, a 18-story, 96-unit mixed-use building proposed at 626 North Delaware Avenue in Northern Liberties, North Philadelphia. Designed by Coscia Moos Architecture, the building, also known under its full address of 626-30 North Delaware Avenue, is slated to rise at a site bordered by the Delaware Avenue to the east, Fairmount Avenue to the north, and North Front Street to the west, next to the Delaware River waterfront. The development takes its name from DeSimone Automotive Group, which plans to run a multi-level car dealership at the building base. Apartments will be located on the floors above.