A church property in Bethesda is drawing attention not just for its nearly $15 million asking price, but for how unusual it is in Maryland’s commercial real estate landscape.
The property at 5144 Massachusetts Avenue is one of a very small group of highly rated houses of worship in the state. According to CoStar Group’s national database, which evaluates commercial properties on a 1 to 5 star scale, more than 5,000 specialty properties are tracked across Maryland. Only 88 have earned a 4 or 5 star rating, and just six of those are churches. This is the only one located in Montgomery County.
The site sits along Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda, adjacent to Spring Valley in Washington, D.C., an area long associated with some of the region’s most expensive residential real estate. Properties with large footprints and significant parking in this stretch of the corridor are increasingly rare, particularly for institutional uses.
But the listing also highlights a quieter trend. Like many large religious properties across the country, the site blends traditional use with supplemental income. Cell equipment from two carriers is installed in the steeple, generating about $7,000 per month, while a Montessori school operating on-site contributes a similar amount and is expected to renew its lease under new ownership.
The property is zoned R-60, and county planning discussions have at times pointed to sites like this as potential candidates for residential redevelopment, including workforce housing components, if approved. That possibility adds another dimension to the listing, especially in a part of the county where developable land is limited and housing demand remains high.
