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 YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed significant construction progress at a 20-unit townhouse development at 1031 Germantown Avenue in Northern Liberties, Lower North Philadelphia. Designed by JKRP Architects, the development will span a wedge-shaped parcel bordered by Germantown Avenue to the southwest and West Allen Street to the north, and will comprise the first phase of a complex that will feature 15 more townhouses in the future.