User:Mike Ablon

Personal Details

 * Born: August 12, 1964 in Dallas, Tx

Alma mater

 * Bachelor of Engineering degree - University of Texas
 * Bachelor of Architecture degree - University of Texas at Austin
 * Masters degree - Harvard University

Occupation

 * Real estate developer and investor, Dallas civic leader

Spouse(s)

 * Karen Ablon

Children

 * 2

Awards

 * Lloyd Warren Traveling Fellowship in Europe for the Paris Prize Competition
 * Two-time finalist as a Fulbright Scholar
 * Best Multifamily Design Projects (DFW Bisnow)
 * Momentum Award for Public-Private Partnerships (Dallas Regional Chamber)
 * Best Deal Award multiple times (Dallas Business Journal)
 * PegasusAblon named one of the 100 Fastest Growing Companies (Bisnow)


 * #1 Best Place to Work in DFW for small companies (Dallas Business Journal)
 * 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas/Fort Worth (D CEO)
 * 2015 Pioneer Award for Real Estate (D Magazine)
 * 2020 Texas Icon for Real Estate in its Inaugural Class - (RED News)
 * Frisco Bridges Apartments - Legacy of Design Award
 * DFW Top Property Management Award
 * Top restaurants in Dallas
 * Sister
 * The Meddlesome Moth
 * Oak
 * FT 33
 * 2011- Public-Private Deal of the Year (DBJ)
 * First LEED- Silver Certified Restaurant in Dallas (Elevation Burger)
 * http://pegasusablon.com/category/news-and-insight/awards/

Introduction
Michael Ben Ablon (born August 12, 1964) is an American founding partner of PegasusAblon, a development and investment firm focused on integrating emerging markets with demographic trends. Ablon is a civic leader in Dallas, TX, with a strong focus on building parks, public infrastructure, and designing and advocating solutions for food insecurity, affordable housing, and public policy changes. Ablon was also a candidate for the 2019 Dallas mayoral election.

Early Life and Education
Mike Ablon is a fifth generation Dallasite where he was born and raised. His family was an early pioneering family in Dallas in the late 1880s, founding a poultry business. His family has been historically known for their service to the city, community, and the military.

In 1988, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. from the Cockrell School of Engineering, and in 1989 a Bachelor of Architecture from their School of Architecture. He then attended Harvard University and received his Masters degree in 1993.

Career
Mike Ablon apprenticed under the late Robert Venturi, a world-renowned theorist and architect, in Philadelphia. This influenced his urban design ideas which would later show up in his large-scale projects including the development of The Design District, Preston Center, the Harbor Village, Frisco Square, and others.

Before having children, Ablon spent several years teaching, as a guest lecturer at many universities, including Harvard and Yale.

In 2007, Ablon founded PegasusAblon, a commercial real estate development, investment and management company headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

PegasusAblon focuses entirely on the Dallas metropolitan area, using an intimate understanding of the growth patterns and demographic shifts within the region.

PegasusAblon has been recognized for Best Multifamily Design Projects, Dallas Regional Chamber Momentum Award for Public-Private Partnerships, DBJ Best Deal Award multiple times, named one of the 100 Fastest Growing Companies, and named the #1 Best Place to Work in DFW for small companies.

Before founding PegasusAblon, Mr. Ablon held senior positions working for Ross Perot at The Perot Group and at Cousins Properties. Under his ownership and leadership, the Dallas Design District has been transformed from a 70 year-old warehouse district into a vibrant neighborhood with showrooms, galleries, unique restaurants, local retailers, and loft apartments, while keeping the district's history, community, and creative vibe intact.

During his time at PegasusAblon, Mike Ablon has completed almost $1.5 billion in development investments and transactions in DFW.

PegasusAblon has led the repositioning of the Preston Center Office Submarket. Mike Ablon's multifamily expertise includes unique projects in the Dallas Design District and the high-growth Frisco Submarket.

In 2021, Ablon worked with the LGBTQ community to preserve, fortify, and reimagine the Oak Lawn/Cedar Springs neighborhood. Ablon’s firm worked through a highly complex rezoning, and is now engaged in an 8-year redevelopment in the neighborhood.

In 2020, Ablon was named a Texas Icon in Real Estate and was named one of the 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas/Fort Worth. He was the first award-recipient of the Pioneer Award, awarded for lifetime real-estate achievement in Dallas. Ablon served on the Advisory Board of BBVA Compass Bank, prior to its sale to PNC Bank.

Mayor of Dallas Election (2019)
Mike Ablon was a candidate in the 2019 election for Dallas mayor. His primary issues included:


 * Public safety for all of Dallas
 * Creating a stronger infrastructure of opportunities for all of Dallas
 * Job stimulation across all of Dallas
 * Addressing affordable housing and food insecurity
 * Ethics reform

Creating Dallas’ Central Park
Michael Ablon's community work includes acting as the founding Chairman of the Trinity River Corridor LGC, focused on the development of a great new central park for Dallas - The Harold Simmons Park. This required an integrated expertise in civil engineering, architectural design, finance, and community outreach.

This massive central park project, between the Trinity River levees tying the central and west sections of Dallas together, should be completed in 2024. Ablon then took this experience, plus the experience of working on Klyde Warren Park, into a leadership role in the development of the city’s next large project, The Southern Gateway Park, as an executive committee member driving the development of the SPG in southern Dallas adjacent to the Dallas Zoo.

Civic Leadership and Community Involvement
Ablon has had a significant leading role in the leadership of The Real Estate Council, TREC, a 501c3. As Chairman of TREC, one of the largest community organizations in North Texas, Ablon led the growth of their affordable housing initiatives, development of access to food to address the food insecurities in disadvantaged areas, grooming the next generation of civic leaders, and supporting the broader community. Ablon was previously also the Chairman of Community Investors (The Foundation).

In his civic leadership, Ablon has additionally been Vice-Chairman of Legacy Senior Living, a 501c3 focused on the development of senior living and subsidized care. Ablon has taken over the leadership in their family tradition of raising money for the future farmers and ranchers at the State Fair Livestock Auction every year.

Ablon is deeply involved in assisting mobility for disadvantaged Dallasites through his contributions and work with the S.M. Wright Foundation.