Ribbon Cut on Abe Pollin's Parkside Project

Housing prices are rising all over Washington, but Thursday, community leaders celebrated 125 new homes built to help keep "workforce" families in the city.

The new homes are a big boost for the little-known Parkside neighborhood near Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Northeast.

“For the most part this neighborhood has been somewhat of a best-kept secret in D.C.,” resident Tonita Dozier said.

She lives near the new homes, works for the Smithsonian and teaches college English. She moved to Parkside nine years ago and welcomes the new $300,000 homes and market-rate apartments that blend in with the quiet neighborhood.

“I felt it could only improve and enhance the existing community,” she said.

Officials cut the ribbon for the $34 million project that was first proposed by the late businessman, sports executive and community leader Abe Pollin.

“This project was my father's vision, so to see it actually come and be real is an amazing, wonderful, inspiring experience,” said his son Robert Pollin.

“This is something that Abe Pollin desperately wanted to see happen,” Mayor Vincent Gray said.

Dozier said she hopes the new neighbors will love the neighborhood like she does.

“Over here in this neighborhood, most people stay,” she said. “They don't move. There are very few for sale signs up.”

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