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 new mixed-use development is planned at 439-45 West Berks Street in Philadelphia, where permits have been issued for the construction of a four-story attached structure. The project will introduce residential density alongside commercial space on a currently underutilized site within the city’s CMX-2 zoning district. According to permit filings, the building will contain 18 residential units, including four designated as affordable housing. Mass Architecture Studio is responsible for the design, with Apiary Studios listed for landscaping.