Poplar Point Spa Deal Faces New Mayor Review
Developers and hospitality operators bidding on the District's last major waterfront site should expect terms to be reopened in January.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Remote Work
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D.C. Mayor-elect Janeese Lewis George declined to commit the 110-acre Poplar Point parcel to the $550 million Therme Group thermal bathing retreat selected by the Bowser administration in 2025. Her position leaves open other development proposals for the District's last major waterfront site, which affects developers and contractors weighing bids there.
Why it matters
Poplar Point is the District's last major waterfront development opportunity, so the choice of anchor tenant shapes which developers, operators and construction firms get a shot at the project. Lewis George said the site should be used to build more affordable homes, signaling a shift in priorities that could change the project's scope and financing before she takes office.
The Therme proposal is a $550 million thermal bathing retreat on Poplar Point's 110 acres along the Anacostia River. Lewis George's campaign committed to building 72,000 new homes, a figure that places the site's use in a citywide housing context.
The players
Janeese Lewis George
D.C. mayor-elect and former councilmember who won the 2026 mayoral race and takes office in January 2027.
Muriel Bowser
Outgoing D.C. mayor serving nearly 12 years, who selected Therme as the Poplar Point anchor.
Therme Group
Operator of large-scale thermal bathing and wellness destinations, proposing a $550 million retreat at Poplar Point.
The details
The Bowser administration accelerated redevelopment efforts at Poplar Point over the past few years and selected Therme as the anchor in 2025. Lewis George told The Washington Sun last month that she has concerns about the project and said she does not want to foreclose other proposals. The outgoing administration has also sought to finalize two pieces of legislation before her term ends, which could lock in terms before the new mayor takes office.
Timeline
2025: Bowser administration selects Therme as Poplar Point anchor.
October 2026: Lewis George tells The Washington Sun she has concerns about the project.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Lewis George wins the mayoral race.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Lewis George says she won't foreclose other Poplar Point proposals.
January 2027: Lewis George takes office, succeeding Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Market Landscape
Poplar Point's selection process is being reshaped by a change in administration, with the outgoing mayor's 2025 choice of Therme now under review. Developers bidding on large District parcels face the same pattern of anchor-tenant decisions shifting after an election.
Developers, construction firms and hospitality operators considering Poplar Point should track whether the Therme proposal survives the transition. Operators should expect bid terms and project scope to be revisited if the incoming administration prioritizes affordable housing on the site.
The takeaway
Operators pursuing District development should treat the January 2027 transition as a reset point for Poplar Point terms. Track any revised solicitation or legislative change, and have counsel review bid conditions before committing capital.
What happens next
Lewis George takes office in January 2027, when decisions on the Poplar Point proposal and the pending legislation will shift to her administration.
Further reading
For broader context on how business location and workplace decisions are shifting, see Remote Work coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bisnow.
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