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.

Permits have been issued for the construction of a three-unit multi family building at 522 West Berks Street near Temple University in North Philadelphia East. The building will rise three stories tall and will hold 2,917 square feet of interior space. A pilot house at the top will allow for access to a roof deck. Christopher Menna is listed as the project’s design professional, with JPL Construction Inc. as the contractor. Construction costs are estimated at $180,000.