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 December, YIMBY reported that permits were issued for the construction of a seven-story, 63-unit mixed-use development at 26 South 42nd Street in Spruce Hill, West Philadelphia. The project will rise on the on the northwest corner of Chestnut and South 42nd streets, on the western periphery of University City. Designed by Coscia Moos Architecture, the structure will span 56,664 square feet and will include 4,828 square feet of retail. The building will provide parking for 42 bicycles well above the 22-space requirement, and nine off-site car parking spaces in a garage across the street at 4141-47 Chestnut Street. Permits list IMC Construction as the contractor and a construction cost of $6.8 million. Today we share plans, elevations, and technical details for the project that were not available in our previous publication.