RSS FeedAbe Pollin, Wizards Owner, Passes Away
There’s no doubt that Abe Pollin, owner of the Washington Wizards basketball team, made a big impact on DC in general and downtown specifically. He committed to and followed through on construction of the MCI (now Verizon) Center in our neighborhood in 1997, brought a needed catalyst to an underused part of town and used his own money to do so. If there was anyone who saw what downtown DC could be, it was him. Abe Pollin passed away today at the age of 85.
Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at 85 [WaPo]
D.C. sports icon Pollin dies at 85 [Wash Times]
Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies [WaBizJo]
Herb Miller, Developer of Gallery Place, on Abe Pollin [Washington CityPaper]
One of Abe Pollin’s ‘Adopted’ Kids Looks Back On His Philanthropy [Washington CityPaper]
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Comments
While some might dispute that assertion, I agree with it.
I’m sure PQ/Chinatown would have had some kind of rebound without the Verizon Center, it would not be nearly what it is now.
I remember going to the (then)MCI Center when it first opened and thinking, “Where the heck am I?!” Now, of course, not that many years later, the area is 180 degrees different and a place people WANT to come to! Thanks, Abe Pollin, for helping make that happen.
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We all owe him a debt of gratitude for what he did for DC. I think it’s fair to say, in fact, that without Mr. Pollin, this blog doesn’t exist.