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.

Permits have been issued for the construction of a four-story, four-unit residential structure at 2222 North Howard Street in Norris Square. Designed by MC3 Architects, the building will rise on a vacant lot flanked by rowhouses on either side, on a block sited between West Dauphin Street, North Howard Street, and Waterloo Street, facing West Colona Street. Permits list J&T Construction as the contractor and specify a total construction cost of $252,500.