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.

A zoning permit has been issued for the construction of a new multi-family residential building at 5661 Sprague Street in Northwest Philadelphia. The project site is currently a vacant lot spanning 2,543 square feet, and the approved plans call for the erection of an attached structure containing six dwelling units. J2A Architects is responsible for the design, REB Shayeles Builders LLC is listed as the contractor, and the property is owned by 5661 Sprague St LLC.