What: Two bills introduced September 30, 2026 at the Mayor's request: B26-0845, which approves a land swap among the District, the Navy, the National Park Service and a developer so the District can take control of the 164-acre Poplar Point waterfront site, and B26-0846, which would dispose of 15 acres to Therme for an $800 million privately funded wellness facility at $1 a year for the first 20 years.
Why it matters: Poplar Point is the District's last major undeveloped waterfront property. The plan keeps about 70 acres as parkland, leaves about 40 acres for development, and depends on relocating National Park Service facilities (about $240 million, with $35 million budgeted for design).
Next: Hearing record closed November 4. No votes yet.
2026-10-28 - Hearing before the Committee on Human Services, see 2026-10-28 - Committee on Human Services. The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development supported both bills. Therme projected about 2 million visitors a year, 5,000 construction jobs and about 700 permanent jobs. Public witnesses largely supported the swap bill, while views on the Therme bill were split over the lack of a competitive process, cleanup liability, displacement and enforceable community benefits. The administration committed to a tax revenue comparison and a written answer on anti-displacement tools.