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.

Last month, developer Midwood Investment and Development unveiled a proposal for a 445-foot high-rise at 204 South 12th Street in Washington Square West, Center City. the 32-story tower will dominate the surrounding blocks with its prominent height. The slender tower, which takes up an entire blockfront of South 12th Street between St. James and Chancellor streets, will offer three tall retail floors at the base, with 448 rental residences above. Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and BLT Architects are the architecture firm behind the design. Partial permits have been filed for the demolition of the existing structures at the site and the new construction.