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.

A recent site visit by Philly YIMBY has revealed that construction is nearing completion at a six-story, 115-unit mixed-use building at 1030 West Girard Avenue in Poplar, North Philadelphia. Designed by SgRA, the building holds 107,165 square feet and, upon completion, will offer ground-level retail, parking for 44 cars in an underground garage and ten more open-air spaces, parking for 40 bicycles, and residential amenity space. Permits list Ascent Design and Builder as the contractor and a construction cost of $2 million.