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 two three-story multi-family buildings at 1232 and 1236 West Erie Avenue in Juniata in Upper North Philadelphia. Designed by Parallel Architecture Studio, each building will contain three residential units, for a combined total of six apartments. The structure at 1232 West Erie Avenue will hold 4,167 square feet of space, while the building at 1236 West Erie Avenue will hold 4,381 square feet of space. Both buildings will cost $300,000 to construct, according the permits.