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 visited the recently completed Drexel University Health Sciences Building at 3601 Filbert Street in University City, West Philadelphia. Also known as the Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions or the Wexford Drexel Academic Tower, the building rises 14 stories, with 12 primary plus two mechanical floors, and is designed by Ballinger and developed by Wexford Science & Technology, with Turner Construction as the contractor. Upon its anticipated completion later this year, the structure will span over 450,000 square feet and will house Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions as well as a significant portion of the functions of the College of Medicine. The building is a part of Wexford’s and Drexel’s 14-acre, jointly-developed uCity Square complex, which is rapidly transforming the northern section of University City.