Before new folks started moving into the area now called Passyunk Square, I remember hearing about 'Fumo' buying up dozens of properties on the Ave. The new folks move in, and started making lots of positive change on the ave. New town watch effort, new clean up efforts, a dedicated guy promoting the ave etc.

Does anyone know exactly how this went down? A bunch of properties are/have been marketed by:
http://www.passyunkrevitalization.org/
which is a part of:
http://www.citizensalliance.us/

The alliance is Fumo's famous charity, right? Is it safe to say that Fumo is responsible for this new and much improved Passyunk Ave?

Yes.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-fkSYDtUY

"Censorship is free advertising by the government"--Federico Fellini

"Do you mind if I smoke while you eat?"

to say Fumo, through his charity, is behind the revitalization of that area.

http://southphillyreview.com/view_article.php?id=5352

I would say that Fumo/CA is the major force, the catalyst, but they are not doing it single-handedly.

Citizen's Alliance handles the street cleaning and sponsors the events along the Avenue.

Of the nine properties owned by Pass. Revitalization, two or three of them have operating businesses (Karina's, Black-n-Brew, and the wedding dress place?), two more of them are in the renovation stage, and the rest are still waiting for something. (Anyone care to fact-check these? I haven't been south of Morris St. in some time.)

The East Passyunk Ave. BID is it's own entity, as far as I know.

However, other new businesses are there because it's East Passyunk. The Cantina, POPE, El Zarrape, and E's come to mind, as they are in buildings not owned by CA

How long ago did CA start purchasing the above properties?

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“The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath.” - W. C. Fields

Of the nine properties owned by Pass. Revitalization, two or three of them have operating businesses (Karina's, Black-n-Brew, and the wedding dress place?), two more of them are in the renovation stage, and the rest are still waiting for something. (Anyone care to fact-check these? I haven't been south of Morris St. in some time.)[/quote]

and Paradiso, the Fountain, Passyunk Scooters.

Oh no, not single handedly at all. I think he got the ball rolling, then everyone hopped in.

I guess the BR can give us specifics....but I think I remember hearing about this ~2000 or so. I think the ave really started rolling in 2005.

I had forgotten about the scooter store, and I had no idea about Paradiso. I wouldn't exactly call the Fountain a business as much as it is an attractive centerpiece, but, yes, CA was responsible for it's acquisition/renovation.

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“The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath.” - W. C. Fields

Tha sounds like it's in the ballpark, probably closer to 2002ish.

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“The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath.” - W. C. Fields

How about the bar @ 12&Tasker that is now Fumos gated parking lot

It helps with parking problems created by employee's