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 three-story, 44-unit apartment building at 4912 Griscom Street in Frankford, Northeast Philadelphia. The project will rise on a vacant lot between Harrison Street and Wakeling Street, one block from Frankford Avenue and across Griscom Street from Jefferson Frankford Hospital. The approved development will span 33,628 square feet of new construction. Project HOME is listed as the owner, with CBP Architects as the architect and Domus Inc listed as the contractor.