Lehigh Avenue

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.

Renderings have been revealed for a new mixed-use development at 1807 East Huntingdon Street in East Kensington. Designed by JKRP Architects, the development will stand five stories tall, adding to and preserving an existing on-site structure. There will be industrial space located within the project on the first and second floors, totaling around 38,158 square feet of space, while an additional 77,438 square feet of space will make rom for 80 residential units. A roof deck will be included as an amenity space for the development, along with a mail/package room at the ground floor.