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 commercial building permit has been issued for the construction of a six-story mixed-use building at 2001 East Lehigh Avenue in East Kensington. The development will offer feature two ground-floor commercial spaces, 146 residential units, and 54 underground parking spaces. Architectural design services are provided by Designblendz, LLP, with landscape design by Apiary Studio, LLC.