SAN DIEGO—Murphy Development is nearing build-out of its 2.1-million-square-foot Siempre Viva Business Park in Otay Mesa with the recent groundbreaking of the 121,970-square-foot Building 18.  The development team includes architect Gene Cipparone, K&S Engineering and Lusardi Construction as the general contractor.

The concrete tilt-up Building 18, located at 2600 Melksee Street, will feature a 32-foot clear height, 8,000 amps of 277/480 volt power, manufacturing sewer and water capacity, concrete truck courts, wide column spacing and high dock door ratios designed for distribution users.

As soon as a lease is executed on Building 18, Murphy plans to start construction on the final class A industrial building at Siempre Viva, a 79,000-square-foot spec building at 8500 Kerns Street.

“With Otay Mesa's industrial vacancy standing at 6.4% – the lowest in the 20 years that CBRE has been tracking the market – and no inventory of class A buildings between 50,000 and 200,000 square feet, we are confident it's time for spec product at Siempre Viva Business Park,” said Andy Irwin, senior vice president and director of marketing for Murphy Development, which has planned or developed more than 10 million square feet of industrial buildings in San Diego.

Murphy Development's newest project on Otay Mesa is Brown Field Technology Park (BFTP), which is planned for 1 million square feet of corporate industrial space. Grading and the storm drain system have been completed and the balance of site improvements will be completed in early 2016.  The 50-acre BFTP can deliver freestanding buildings between 75,000 and 300,000 square feet within a year.

Irwin said Otay Mesa is enjoying a renaissance, spurred on by several major projects. The new Cross Border Express Terminal, scheduled for completion this year, will connect Otay Mesa directly to Tijuana International Airport, which offers direct flights throughout Mexico and to Asia.

Construction is scheduled to start in 2016 on a major renovation and expansion on 330-acres of the Brown Field Airport.  The transformation into Metro Airpark, will involve new aviation, retail, hospitality, commercial and industrial uses.

“Lower occupancy costs, traffic improvements, a strong labor pool from South County and Baja California, and available utilities are all driving the growth of Otay Mesa,” said Irwin.

The city of San Diego adopted the new Otay Mesa Community Plan Update in April 2014.  It provides a roadmap for Otay Mesa's long-term growth and development.

San Diego-based Murphy Development Company (MDC) has master planned and developed more than 10 million square feet of multi-phase corporate industrial and technology parks in San Diego. MDC acquires land and develops best-in-class corporate parks with the goal of leasing buildings – or completing build-to-suits for sale or lease – to Fortune 500 companies.