Dale Corporation

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.

Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that construction work is complete at a seven-story, 18-unit mixed-use building at 222 North 11th Street in Chinatown, Center City. The mid-rise structure stands on the west side of the block between Race and Vine streets, half a block north of the Convention Center (thus situating the project within the Convention Center District). Designed by YCH Architect, the structure spans 17,280 square feet. Permits list Liu Construction as the contractor.