South Bay Developer Sells 37-Acre Otay Mesa Campus To Investment Group For $158.5M

By Editor, Times of San Diego

November 4, 2021

Murphy Development Company has sold a 665,229-square-foot industrial campus near the border in Otay Mesa for $158.5 million, officials said.

Known as The Campus at San Diego Business Park, the project consists of three freestanding buildings at 2001, 2055 and 2065 Sanyo Ave. It was nearly 98% leased to eight tenants at the time of sale.

LaSalle Investment Management bought the 37-acre property from Murphy Development, located in Otay Mesa.

Jeff Chiate, Jeffrey Cole, Bryce Aberg, Ed Hernandez, Mike Adey and Zach Harman of Cushman & Wakefield’s National Industrial Advisory Group represented the seller in the transaction.

Aberg, along with Andy Irwin and Joe Anderson of JLL, provided leasing advising.

“The Campus was a rare market opportunity for an investor to acquire a significant industrial portfolio of high quality, institutional quality assets with a strong tenant profile,” said Chiate, vice chairman at Cushman & Wakefield.

He added that the site provides “unsurpassed regional, national and international access.”

The three-phase project – the oldest building, 2001 Sanyo, was constructed in the late 1980s, while 2065 Sanyo was built a year ago – features divisible spaces with a variety of bay sizes, loading doors, sprinkler systems and concrete truck courts. There is also gas service at the site.

According to Cushman & Wakefield’s third-quarter 2021 industrial market report, occupancy growth year-to-date in Otay Mesa has reached nearly 4.3 million square feet, driven by a massive build-to-suit project.

Meanwhile, direct submarket vacancy was just 3.3% at the close of the quarter.

“South County industrial property remains among the most sought-after among both tenants and owners,” said Aberg, Cushman & Wakefield’s executive managing director. “Otay Mesa maintains impressive market fundamentals benefiting from extreme rent growth coupled with strong occupancy growth and demand. The area also provides access to a large labor supply.”

Murphy Development plans and develops corporate industrial, technology and life science parks. In Otay Mesa, the 35-year-old company has developed or planned in excess of 10 million square feet. The company also is developing 31 acres in Scripps Ranch.

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