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 Le’ Adrienne, a three-story, four-unit mixed-use building at 1500 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown. The new structure will rise from a currently vacant lot situated on the northwest corner of Frankford Avenue and Jefferson Street. Designed by Ambit Architecture, the building will span 6,530 square feet, with retail at the ground level and apartments above. Permits list Palace Builders as the contractor.