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.

Philadelphia has been known as the “Mural Capital of the World” since Mural Arts Philadelphia, an anti-graffiti program started in the 1980s (combined with works by unaffiliated artists), produced upwards of 6,000 murals throughout the city. In great part, the mural-painting endeavor was an organic response to the city’s predominance of blank walls that became exposed after the lamentable postwar advent of disinvestment, depopulation, and mass demolitions. As the city’s population is finally reviving, having seen an increase of more than five percent in its population over the past decade (the largest growth percentage in 70 years), Philly YIMBY has covered ample new development rising upon numerous long-neglected properties. We make an effort to note local murals whenever they surface during our development coverage, particularly when they are in peril of being demolished to make way for new development or obstructed by new buildings. Today we look back at some of the murals that we have come across over the years.