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.

Last month, YIMBY shared the news of a four-story, 86-unit residential building being proposed at 448-56 Rhawn Street (aka 448-456 Rhawn Street) in Fox Chase, Northeast Philadelphia. Today we take a closer look at the development, which will rise across from the Fox Chase Station of the SEPTA Regional Rail. Designed by KCA Design Associates, the structure will contain 77,776 square feet of interior space and will offer 2,500 square feet of ground-level retail, as well as a garage with space for 48 cars and 30 bicycles.