I'm curious what people think of the potential for the Tioga area? I think that, though most of it is gone, there are still some amazing examples of the victorian architecture that once dominated the area; especially around Tioga and 22nd. I've found some pictures of what the area used to look like and it was impressive. Additionally, does anyone know why it was once wealthy, and why it became blighted? I've tried to find historical information on-line but there isn't much to go on. I'm interested to hear anyone's opinion on the area.

From what I have been able to piece together, there was a brief period when a lot of Philadelphia's wealthy folks, a lot of self-made industrial types, decided to live in North Philly and build amazing mansions there. This is how North Philadelphia got a major railroad station. One example was the Disstons who had their factory and company town in Tacony but built their mansions in North Philly.

That period was short lived and the wealthy types decided to move to estates on the Main Line. This may have been because the railroads saw the opportunity to make real estate deals on then low value Main Line land that wouldn't have existed by encouraging rich folks to live in North Philly.

The area probably became blighted for the same reason Powelton Village and West Frankford did when the city allowed the large, once gracious houses to be broken up into poorly converted, poorly maintained, low rent, high density, absentee landlord apartment buildings. The decline was then intensified by the loss of factory jobs in those areas.

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North Philadelphia is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is immediately north of Center City. Though the full extent of the region is somewhat vague, "North Philadelphia" is generally regarded as everything north of either Vine Street or Spring Garden Street, between Northwest Philadelphia and Northeast Philadelphia. The city government views this sprawling chunk of Philadelphia more precisely as three smaller districts, drawn up by the Redevelopment Authority in 1964. These regions are (from north to south) East & West Oak Lane/Olney, Upper North Philadelphia, and Lower North Philadelphia.
In past decades, North Philadelphia was hit hard by white flight and economic decline. The majority of North Philadelphia's residents are poor African American and Hispanic American. Despite its wealth of history, schools, cultural sites, parkland, architecture, and other holdovers from more prosperous times, high crime and unfettered poverty have earned North Philadelphia a reputation as a slum. At the same time, some would counter that it is far more diverse an area, and thus too large to stereotype. From the Puerto Rican communities in Hunting Park, West Kensington, and Fairhill to the middle class African American neighborhoods around the Oak Lanes to the poor ghettos that typify much of its core to newly-gentrifying Brewerytown, a large portion of Philadelphians call this section home. Recent developments have given North Philadelphia a brighter future, as several neighborhoods begin to overcome some of the aforementioned problems.

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During the 40s and 50s, much of the area was racially integrated, although smaller streets were usually completely black or white. Whites began to move out slowly at first in the late 1940s as these residents became more affluent and Northeast Philadelphia began to develop new housing with lawns and conveniences such as modern plumbing. In most cases African Americans moved into the vacant houses and as this began to increase, true white flight began. Increasingly, people moved out of North Philadelphia not solely to move into newer homes, but to avoid facing decreasing property values and, for some, to avoid the prospect of living in a majority-black neighborhood.



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Furthermore, the Columbia Avenue race riots of 1964 became iconic for the rising ethnic tensions in the region, and the continued withdrawal of white residents. The riot, which virtually destroyed the central shopping district of North Philadelphia, signaled the beginning of the end for the North's commercial sector. The withering of the American manufacturing sector led to the closing of many of the factories that many northern neighborhoods were centered around and depended on. Increased urban blight and the general decline of Philadelphia in the late 20th century even saw the decline of even many of the strong black communities in North Philadelphia. The legendary Connie Mack Stadium was closed in favor of the new Pattison Sports Complex. North Philadelphia Station lost Amtrak Service, and the BSL subway line garnered a reputation for violent crime and rape. The great art deco office buildings and government institutions were mostly abandoned, as were the mansions of the many ruined industrialists. Drugs, gangs, educational problems, police corruption, and other woes common in the ghettos of America seemed to seal North Philadelphia's fate as a perpetual slum.

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Wow, I live literally down the street... near 19th and Westmoreland!

I think the Tioga area had great potential for the area to be revitalized. Unfortunately, they started tearing down some of the mansions that could have been fixed-up. But that includes alot of N.Philly. Every day when I walk around the different neighborhoods, I see great houses that have alot of potential, but due to neglect no one wants to do anything with them. Especially around Strawberry Mansion, their are some great houses across from the park.

It would be a great section (Strawberry Mansion) if it wasn't for the fact your very likely to be a victim of crime.

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While some of those larger properties are down many are still standing. I always find it terrible when one half a twin is down but the other half is standing.

I found a listing for a place in Nicetown-Tioga for $750,000.
http://realtor.com/FindHome/HomeList...5&lnksrc=00002
Even though its at 16th and Tioga, of course its listed as Germantown.

I think that depends on different circumstances. I've lived in N.Philly all my life and I have never been a victim of a crime. I recently moved to the Strawberry Mansion section a few years ago and the only time I recall any crime associated where I lived at was the Presidential. But then again everyone has their stories.

Sorry the north philly article isn't more specific, but it's hard to get specifics for a lot of the individual neighborhoods in North Philly. I wrote the article a while ago, but even after years of study I couldn't come up with a lot more to add.

Tioga has always been a mystery to me. I've been to a lot of areas in NP with great architecture, but the area in Tioga that you mentioned has always taken the cake for me. I've thought about buying in there, even though it is still so isolated from more stable neighborhoods. Seeing those houses rot breaks my heart though. A few are still in good condition, I wonder if anyone stuck around from the old days.

As a side note, I've heard increasing talk that someone is trying to buy the Beury building. It's a drop in the bucket, but would be a boon for the area. If anyone has anymore news from the area I'd like to hear about it. I've always been surprised how many ex-residents write on the boards about Nicetown, Olney, Kensington, etc. No one about tioga though...