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.

Partial permits have been issued for the construction of a seven-story, 84-unit mixed-use building at 130 West Girard Avenue in Northern Liberties, Lower North Philadelphia. The structure will span a triangular block bound by Girard Avenue to the north, North Howard Street to the east, and O’Neill Street to the southwest, replacing a bank and its associated parking lot. Designed by Studio HS4, the structure will feature 57,000 square feet of residential space, 3,500 square feet of commercial space at the ground floor, and parking for 11 cars and 28 bicycles. Permits list the Ferraro Construction Group as the contractor.