South Street

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 filed for the demolition of a vacant two-story rowhouse at 1657 South Conestoga Street in Kingsessing, Southwest Philadelphia. The former single-family dwelling is located on the block that sits between Greenway Avenue and Kingsessing Avenue. The building will be torn down as part of the City of Philadelphia Demolition Program at a cost of $15,000. The property is owned by Biggs James. The contractor listed for the work is Mangual Demolition Inc.