Lehigh Avenue

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.

Zoning permits have been filed for 1136 Carpenter Street in the Hawthorne neighborhood in South Philadelphia. Located near the corner of 12th and Carpenter Street, the new building will be an attached structure adjacent to the neighboring building to the east. The new building will also sit within a little over 10 minutes of a walking distance from the iconic Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks.