D.C.'s next big waterfront development is Poplar Point
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Poplar Point pictured in 2013. Photo: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post
D.C. is trying to breathe new life into a 110-acre waterfront site called Poplar Point.
Why it matters: It's one of the last big developable sites along the Anacostia River.
Driving the news: D.C. picked consulting firm HR&A Advisors to reimagine the site and help transfer the land from the federal government to the city, deputy mayor for economic development Nina Albert announced last week.
- In order for D.C. to take over Poplar Point, there are facilities belonging to the National Park Service that need to be relocated.
D.C. is seeking a destination anchor to fill up to 15 acres of Poplar Point, drawing locals and tourists.
- The city hopes it'll provide "a source of substantial tax revenue, jobs, and environmental benefits, many of which will be easily accessible to communities east of the Anacostia River," Albert said in the announcement.
- The rest of the site presents opportunities for mixed-use residential and commercial development. Residents have talked about the idea for years.
Between the lines: D.C. is continuing to invest and build its waterfronts, which had been neglected for decades.
The intrigue: A possible anchor could be a European wellness company that already announced it wants to bring its waterpark, thermal bathing, and spa resort to D.C.
- The Therme Group announced an agreement with D.C. in 2023 to pursue a site search process to build a wellness campus spanning up to 600,000 square feet.
"Therme has definitely been spending time in the District exploring this as a compatible use in Ward 8," deputy mayor Nina Albert told the Washington Business Journal. "And we hope that they — and frankly we expect — that they will" express interest in Poplar Point.
Flashback: The redevelopment of Poplar Point has stalled several times since the 2000s.