East downtown began its transition to a semi-residential neighbourhood in 1997 when the MCI Center (now the Verizon Center) opened one block from the Chinatown gate on 7th and H Streets.

东部城区向半住宅区的转变始于1997年。当时，MCI中心（如今的Verizon中心）在距离唐人街牌楼（第七街和H街交接处）一个街区的地方开张了。