BridgePrep Academy Leased Space in Ives Estates
The charter school will occupy 56,000 square feet at the California Club Shopping Center.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Commercial
Live Poll
Do you support converting retail shopping centers into school locations in your area?
Families in Ives Estates will soon have a new school option as BridgePrep Academy has secured a 56,000-square-foot lease at the California Club Shopping Center. The site, which sits 15 miles north of Downtown Miami, was formerly occupied by Waterways Preparatory Academy.
Why it matters
Securing suitable space for educational operators in the area is increasingly difficult, as Miami faces a persistent shortage of inventory for such institutions. This addition marks the latest expansion for the operator, which currently runs 19 campuses throughout Florida.
The new lease covers 56,000 square feet of a 273,050-square-foot shopping center, marking BridgePrep Academy's 20th location in Florida. The exact timeline for the school's opening at the site has not yet been disclosed.
The players
BridgePrep Academy
A charter school network that manages 19 locations across Florida.
RK Centers
The property management firm that owns the California Club Shopping Center.
CBRE
The commercial real estate services firm that represented the tenant in the lease.
The details
BridgePrep Academy signed the deal for the space at 750 Ives Dairy Road, previously held by Waterways Preparatory Academy. The property owner, RK Centers, manages the retail hub which already hosts tenants including Planet Fitness, Five Below, and Burlington. Brokers from CBRE represented the charter school in the transaction.
Timeline
The lease agreement was finalized as of October 9, 2026.
Waterways Preparatory Academy previously occupied the space in 2025.
Beyond the 305
This deal follows the regional trend of private and charter schools securing space in traditional retail hubs due to the scarcity of available land for new development. It reflects the ongoing difficulty in finding properties suitable for educational operators in Miami-Dade County.
The center will remain active with existing stores like Planet Fitness and Burlington while welcoming the new school. Neighbors should anticipate site modifications as the property transitions from its former school tenant to BridgePrep Academy.
The takeaway
This lease highlights how retail shopping centers continue to evolve into mixed-use hubs for schools and service providers. Residents should keep an eye on the 750 Ives Dairy Road property for upcoming construction permits or site announcements.
Further reading
You can find more updates on local business growth and property shifts in our Commercial section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Commercial Observer.
Live Poll
Do you support converting retail shopping centers into school locations in your area?
