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.

Permits have been issued for the construction of a three-story, four-unit apartment building at 2326 North 7th Street in North Philadelphia East. The development will rise from a vacant lot situated on the west side of the block between Germantown Avenue and West York Street. The structure will span 3,953 square feet and will feature a basement and two roof decks. Permits list JT Ran Expediting as the party behind the zoning submission and JPL Construction as the contractor. The construction cost is specified at $300,000.