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.

Philly YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that construction work is complete at a four-unit mixed-use development at 709 South 50th Street in Cedar Park, West Philadelphia, which received permits last September. The development is located on the northeast side of the block between Willows Avenue and Pentridge Street. Designed by CANNOdesign, the building will rise three stories (four if including the third-floor mezzanine), span 4,990 square feet and feature commercial space on the ground floor and a roof deck. Permits specify PMC Construction & Development as the contractor. Construction costs are specified at $437,000.