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.

Just a month after the erection of the tower crane, the steel structure is underway at 2222 Market Street in Center City West. The building is one of many projects transforming the west side of Center City. Designed by Gensler, the structure will rise 318 feet and 20 stories high and will feature a modern mix of glass, metal, and stone cladding. The building is developed by Parkway Commercial Properties, which used to operate the parking lot that used to occupy the block.