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.

Spring Garden Street has seen a number of proposals in recent months, such as 501 Spring Garden Street in Northern Liberties. Bower Lewis Thrower Architects is the designer and Neal and Victor Rodin are the developers behind the 153-foot, 13-story high-rise, which will feature retail at the ground floor and 382 apartments above. The proposal, which was unveiled in the beginning of the year, will replace a strip mall and add much-needed density to the neighborhood.