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.

Philadelphia YIMBY recently announced the filing of new permits for 113-121 South 19th Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, which appear to give a height bump for the structure. Designed by DAS Architecture and Planning, the 215-unit building is now planned to rise 57 stories, meaning that its height may reach over 600 feet. The slender tower is an unusual proposal for the city due to its smaller-than-average floor plates. The project is developed by Pearl Properties, which has also built The Harper, a high-rise residential building that opened in 2019 a block away. Today we present exclusive massing renderings that show the potential effect the building may have on the skyline.