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.

A recent site visit by Philly YIMBY has discovered that a construction has been cleared for a seven-story, 108-unit multi-family project at 2000-20 East Hagert Street in East Kensington. The development will rise on a site bound by East Hagert Street to the east, Emerald Street to the north, and East Boston Street to the west. Designed by T + Associates, the structure will span 93,832 square feet and will include 13 artist studios and underground parking for 19 cars, as well as space for 37 bicycles. The project will also include a green roof and a roof deck.