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 is nearing completion at a three-story mixed-use development at 1500 Germantown Avenue in Olde Kensington. The development rises from a vacant, wedge-shaped property situated at the northwest cornet of Germantown Avenue and Jefferson Street. Designed by Cheryl Poulos Architect, the building will span 5,359 square feet, which will include over 1,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space, a cellar, and a roof deck. Permits list Philly Parking Solutions as the contractor and indicate a construction cost of $400,000.