Abe Pollin

Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin has passed away at the age of 85, the Washington Post is reporting.

In addition to owning the Wizards, the Mystics and the Capitals, Pollin’s work in developing the real estate deal that became the Verizon Center and Gallery Place retail complex has largely been credited with turning D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood around.

Pollin was also a longtime Washingtonian, having graduated from George Washington University in 1945.

From D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty’s statement:

“Today the District of Columbia has lost one of our greatest treasures. Abe Pollin almost single-handedly revitalized the Gallery Place / Chinatown neighborhood by turning down offers from suburban jurisdictions to finance and build the Verizon Center on 7th Street NW. My deepest condolences go out to Mr. Pollin’s family, most especially his wife Irene, who was always his partner, in sports, construction, philanthropy, and of course, family.”