Waterfront Academy Seeks A New Home in SW

With redevelopment of Bethel Church, school must move

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Waterfront Academy is located in Bethel Church DC360 at 60 I Street SW, the latest house of worship in Southwest to face redevelopment. Photo: William Rich


Bethel Church DC360, at 60 I Street SW is the latest Southwest church to undergo redevelopment into a 186,000 SF residential building on the church property across the street from the Randall School site. Waterfront Academy is located on the second floor of Bethel, so as a result of the church redevelopment and the school’s growth, it is searching for a new home and has embarked on a $13 million fundraising campaign.

Waterfront Academy is a dual immersion (Spanish and English) Montessori school with emphasis on charity and stewardship in the Catholic tradition. The school wants to stay in the SWDC area, where it’s been since operations began in 2014. According to a fundraising email sent by the school, the new space will allow Waterfront Academy to serve at least 135 students each year. The school will include a chapel, library, teacher’s lounge, administrative offices, Infirmary, gymnasium, kitchen, 11 classrooms, and an outdoor plaza featuring an Urban Farm, Outdoor Classrooms, and Natural Play Space.