Mayor Proposed $1 Annual Lease for Poplar Point Resort
Washington operators should evaluate the potential commercial impact of a new 600,000-square-foot wellness facility.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Remote Work
Live Poll
Should city-owned riverfront land be prioritized for a private luxury spa or for public housing?
Mayor Muriel Bowser has unveiled a formal lease proposal for a 600,000-square-foot urban wellness resort at Poplar Point. The project, which requires D.C. Council approval, features a $1 annual lease rate for the first 20 years.
Why it matters
The development signals a major shift for the Anacostia waterfront, with potential for significant regional job growth and new infrastructure. It marks a push to leverage federal land for commercial expansion that could alter local competitive dynamics.
The proposal includes a $1 annual lease for the first 20 years of the project, which is projected to generate $1.5 billion in tax revenue over 25 years. The 600,000-square-foot facility is expected to support 5,000 construction jobs and over 700 permanent positions.
The players
Muriel Bowser
The Mayor of Washington D.C. who is currently leading the administration's urban development and land-use initiatives.
Therme
An international developer and operator of large-scale wellness resorts that currently manages locations across Germany and Romania.
Janeese Lewis George
The incoming Mayor of Washington D.C. scheduled to assume office in January 2027.
U.S. Park Police
A federal law enforcement agency currently utilizing facilities on the 110-acre Poplar Point site.
The details
The plan relies on relocating current U.S. Park Police facilities to open the 110-acre site for development. Alongside the resort, the plan earmarks 70 acres for a new public park, using a land-use agreement to facilitate commercial build-out on federal property. Therme, the developer, plans to bring its thermal pool and sauna model to the city, following its expansion strategy in Germany and Romania.
Timeline
2023: Therme first introduced the wellness resort concept.
September 2026: Mayor Bowser unveiled the formal lease proposal.
January 2027: New mayor Janeese Lewis George assumes office.
First 20 years: Duration of the proposed $1 annual lease.
25 years: Period for projected $1.5 billion tax revenue.
Market Landscape
The Poplar Point development follows the land-use patterns for large-scale site revitalization established by the D.C. Comprehensive Plan. It represents a significant departure from standard commercial leasing models by leveraging a nominal long-term rent structure to catalyze waterfront investment.
Business owners in the Anacostia area should monitor D.C. Council dockets for hearings regarding the Poplar Point development's approval. The influx of 700 permanent jobs and construction activity will likely shift local labor demand and customer foot traffic in the near term.
The takeaway
Large-scale urban development projects often require complex negotiations regarding federal land usage and long-term public-private partnership agreements. Operators should watch for upcoming D.C. Council hearings to determine if this project fits into their medium-term facility or hiring plans.
What happens next
The D.C. Council must review and approve the lease proposal before development can proceed, with a change in mayoral leadership occurring in January 2027.
Further reading
For broader trends in commercial space usage, see the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
Live Poll
Should city-owned riverfront land be prioritized for a private luxury spa or for public housing?
