897 North 40th Street

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 four-story, 45-unit apartment building at 6767 Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy, Northwest Philadelphia. The development will replace a three-story prewar structure on the east side of the block between Slocum and Pleasant streets. The building will rise from a 12,500-square-foot footprint and will contain 48,950 square feet of interior space. The ground floor commercial space will contribute to the existing retail corridor along the street, and the roof deck promises to offer sweeping views of the surroundings due to the building’s relative prominence. A total of 33 parking spaces will be included, one of which will be van-accessible. Permits list Neighborhlyliving LLC as the owner and Venco Builders Inc. as the contractor.