Mayor Muriel Bowser is pushing to finalize a $550 million thermal bathing spa project on Poplar Point, a 110-acre waterfront site, before her term ends. The plan faces resistance from the presumptive new mayor and some D.C. Council members who question whether the site should prioritize affordable housing instead.
Project Overview and Legislative Push
The proposed development, anchored by Austria-based Therme Group, would occupy 15 acres of the Poplar Point site under a 60-year ground lease with a 20-year extension option. The legislation submitted to the D.C. Council on Sept. 30 includes two bills: one to transfer federal land to the District and another to lease the 15 acres to Therme. The spa would span between 400K and 600K square feet, with Therme funding the spa project itself at $550 million.
Bowser’s administration selected Therme as the project’s anchor in March 2025 after a request for proposals received only one response. The company, which plans to build 10 U.S. locations, has support from over 50 local organizations, primarily in Ward 8. The remaining 70 acres of Poplar Point would be reserved as parkland, as mandated in the 2006 legislation.
Council Opposition and Political Tensions
Presumptive Mayor Janeese Lewis George opposes the current proposal, arguing the prime waterfront location should instead focus on affordable housing and job creation. Lewis George, who chairs the Facilities Committee, said she would not hold a hearing on them this year and will wait until next year in some capacity. She told The Washington Sun she wants to “make this a better deal for District residents.”
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At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson expressed concerns about the rushed timeline, noting the proposal was submitted late in the legislative session. “You’re asking the Council to take a limited, now, amount of time to scrutinize a project proposal,” Henderson said. “So I don’t necessarily feel any sense of needing to rush.”
Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin, who chairs the Human Services Committee, has scheduled a hearing for Oct. 28 to review the bills, emphasizing the need for “rigorous Council oversight, transparency, and robust public engagement.” A spokesperson for Frumin said in an email that he will review the details and hear community feedback before making a decision on the bills. “As the committee process unfolds, his priority remains ensuring rigorous Council oversight, transparency, and robust public engagement,” the spokesperson wrote. “The upcoming October 28 hearing provides a critical opportunity to hear public testimony and receive further details from the Executive.”
Therme Group US Executive Chairman John Alschuler said that his company hopes to break ground in three years and finish construction three years after that — around 2033. Deputy Mayor Nina Albert stressed that securing private-sector commitment quickly is critical amid economic uncertainty and declining commercial real estate revenues. The Poplar Point project is included in a legislative package intended to “drive economic growth and continue momentum in diversifying the city’s economy and creating jobs for DC residents,” according to a press release from the mayor’s office.
Broad Development Context and Federal Requirements
Poplar Point represents the District’s last major waterfront development opportunity, long envisioned as a mixed-use neighborhood akin to the Navy Yard or The Wharf. The 2006 federal legislation mandated environmental assessments, cleanup efforts, and relocation of federal facilities before the District could acquire the land for development.
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In August 2024, the Bowser administration selected HR&A Advisors as its owner’s representative to guide the District through securing control and developing the site. The RFEI process for a “destination anchor” yielded Therme as the sole respondent, a company with global plans to establish 10 U.S. locations. Therme’s willingness to engage with the site’s uncertainties aligned with the District’s development goals.
The rest of the mixed-use development at Poplar Point would span 25 acres, with the remaining 70 acres reserved as parkland under federal requirements. Support from over 50 local organizations, including the Anacostia Business Improvement District and Martha’s Table, highlights community engagement with the project.
Legislative Process and Economic Challenges
The two bills need to go through the Facilities and Human Services committees. Her stance complicates the timeline, as the legislation must pass before the session ends on Jan. 2.
