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.

Recently, YIMBY shared an extensive set of Broad and Lombard, a 553-foot-tall, 43-story development proposed at 500 South Broad Street (alternately 500-10 South Broad Street in Center City. Today we look at the floor plans for one of the most significant developments on the city’s drawing boards. Designed by SITIO Architecture + Urbanism and developed by Broad Lombard Associates LP, the project will consist of three buildings, with the new tower spanning 517,907 square feet and featuring 468 residential units, the renovated three-story Health Center Building with 80,440 square feet of commercial space and underground parking for 30 vehicles, and a renovated historic townhouse.