Adaptive reuse can be a great strategy for saving time, money and buildings, but there are many considerations across many industries that need to be be addressed first.
Author: Anna Griffin featuring Russ Murfey
Press
Construction Experts Do It All to Create Neighborhoods
When a developer employs all the people needed to bring a new area to life, you know that all the right work is done by the right people. Murfey Company’s team renovated The Collins in La Jolla, a 1960s-era building, to include apartments and retail. (Courtesy of Murfey Company)
You may hear terms like “urban development” or “infill housing” in the news or from your city representatives, and these terms may not mean much to you. But beyond the buzzwords, the building and renovating you see in the San Diego area is intended to create neighborhoods – and that is a word that likely means a lot to you.
Everyone wants to live in an attractive area with amenities such as retail, restaurants, and parks. You work hard, so when you come home you want a well-designed, bright, earth-friendly space that promotes relaxation, or that inspires you to welcome friends into your home.
In a vibrant city like San Diego, change is constant. Communities and buildings live their lives but often get to a stage where they need a new purpose, or a complete ground-up renovation. Builders who understand this can bring new vitality to neighborhoods by investing in and developing places to live, work, and socialize. The most successful new living spaces are created to reflect the lifestyle you have chosen, complete with sea breezes, vistas, and materials that reflect life in our part of the world.
Sounds wonderful? It is, but it’s also not easy. Cities and their outlying areas are complex places, and to build great neighborhoods, companies have to negotiate financing, real estate, permitting, construction and design, environmental, and technological issues. Sometimes, the best solution is a building company that is way more than a group of workers in hard hats.
When a developer employs all the people needed to bring a new apartment building, shopping area, or single-family home to life, you know that all the right work is done by the right people. Builders who work with in-house project managers, site supervisors, accountants, marketing and business development pros, technology specialists, and expert tradespeople handle projects efficiently, cost effectively, and with years of experience and knowledge.
This expertise can extend into the best part of any project – when people start living in a new space. When leasing and financial and property management are needed, who better to call on than the people who developed, designed, and built the project?
To see what a vertically integrated builder can do, check out The Collins in La Jolla. This 1960s-era building was renovated in 2020 to include 16 apartments, half of which have ocean views. Residents in this reclaimed building have a short walk to the beach and a grocery store on the first floor.
Murfey Company was proud to be able to bring new life to The Collins. Specializing in urban-infill, mixed-use projects, the company is guided by brothers and La Jolla locals Scott and Russ Murfey.
“Murfey Company encompasses a comprehensive group of services, driven by technology, and fueled by a passion for all things in the building industry,” says Russ Murfey.
Working with owners, developers, architects, engineers, consultants, and designers in the early stages of projects help Murfey staff provide real-time pricing and cost-saving ideas.
“Our team can coordinate and track all of the professional consultants required to get a new project permitted and underwritten in an expedient manner, so residents can start enjoying life in beautiful spaces and in great locations.”
So the next time you read about a new “infill” “urban development,” take a look at the project and see who is behind it, and how much they will bring to the residents of that area.
Murfey Company has been helping San Diegans Create Their Lifestyle since 2009. For more information go to www.murfeycompany.com.
Author: Russell Murfey / This article originally appeared in La Jolla Light
Bankers Hill is Finding its Groove in the Beer Scene
What was once solely a wine-and-cocktails neighborhood is slowly becoming a craft beer destination
by Beth Demmon
Bankers Hill, the affluent neighborhood nestled between Hillcrest and Downtown, may be less raucous than its neighbors, but it’s far from boring. While the quiet uptown hamlet has long leaned residential, its drinking and dining scene is already home to Mister A’s iconic “dining room in the sky,” as well as trendy Italian favorite Cucina Urbana, the beer-and-burger gods at The Balboa, gay enclave SRO Lounge, and some of the stiffest drinks in town at the dive bar paradise Cherry Bomb. (Don’t ever order a double. I learned that the hard way.)
Over the past few years, the area has seen some heart-crushing closures (like the beloved local staple Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant), but a few dazzling new openings as well, such as Pure Project’s Balboa Park taproom and adjacent Biergarten, which opened in 2019.
“The area has definitely come alive in the past four years,” says Kira Bouchard, Pure’s director of retail operations, adding that the tight-knit Bankers Hill community was a huge reason they were able to weather Covid-19’s difficulties. She predicts with Mid-City’s ongoing sprawl, the neighborhood’s growth will only keep increasing. “New small businesses and high-end residential buildings have started to pop up and bring new activity to the area, and it will only continue to become more vibrant and active.”
One such anticipated project is North Park Beer Company’s first outpost, which will land at 3067 Fifth Avenue in mid-December, according to founder and head brewer Kelsey McNair. The sleek mixed-use development project dubbed Secoya on Fifth will emulate the familiar “housing on top, retail on bottom” high-density aesthetic found across Bankers Hill and will make the neighborhood’s second taproom alongside Pure Project.
Beer lovers looking for a diversity of choices need not wait until December, however. As of a few weeks ago, The Corner Drafthouse is under new management and has what general manager Mike Ratkiewicz calls their primary goal: becoming the best beer bar in San Diego.
“With the San Diego beer scene losing some of its most iconic beer destinations, we feel we are poised to fill that gap,” he explains.
With 70 taps, Ratkiewicz claims they’re currently the biggest beer bar in the city with what he hopes is the most beer style options, serving a wide array of San Diego beers as well as specialties from all over the country. But he’s quick to add they don’t just serve beer — there are also plenty of wines, cocktails, hard seltzers, and even ciders, meads, and kombuchas to ensure everyone leaves satisfied. “We want everyone from every walk of life to feel like they have a place at our table because they do, [and] the way to include everyone is to offer as many options as possible.”
Scaling Down to Level Up
From Bankers Hill to Vista, local developers are refining small living with big, bold ideas
From Bankers Hill to Vista, local developers are refining small living with big, bold ideas. Think meticulous layouts without a wasted square inch, indoor-outdoor living, and amenities that rival boutique hotels, all in highly walkable neighborhoods. Scaling down has never felt so next-level.
Space Explorer
Before he built Hillcrest’s Cayuca residential community, Curtis Micklish made a major lifestyle change. The designer and his wife, Christina, who runs Urbanist Guide San Diego, downsized from 1,800 square feet to just 400. “It allowed me to understand what was really necessary for two people to live comfortably in a small space,” he says.
The 370-square-foot units at the eye-catching Cayuca feature lofty ceilings, expansive glass sliders, private decks, and lots of clever built-in storage, as well as curtained sleeping quarters tucked away in a cubby. “Every inch counts,” says Curtis. “Removing clutter is critical to creating a sense of space.”
He found design inspiration on his travels to densely populated cities in Japan, and hopes scaling back will become more appealing to San Diegans. “For many people, small living is a short-term experiment, but with the right balance of functionality and detail, it is a sustainable life that affords less costs, less maintenance, and a unique closeness to your significant other.”
Banking on It
For developer Scott Murfey, sacrificing cool good looks for the sake of affordability simply wasn’t an option. At Secoya, a stylish new eight-story, 100-unit project in walkable Bankers Hill, Murfey Company managed to achieve both. From kitted-out kitchens to truly hangout-worthy communal spaces, Secoya offers maximum return on modest square footage.
Hip local firm Tecture designed the interiors for the building’s shared areas and its residential units, which include full-size kitchens and bathrooms—most of them boast a balcony as well. The retail-oriented ground floor will feature a North Park Brewing Company taproom with eats that’s set to open by fall. And on the roof: views of neighboring Balboa Park, the city skyline, and the bay.
“What we provide is an affordable place to live in a great location,” says Murfey. “It’s entry- level workforce housing, not super high-end, but we wanted to make it really cool for young people.”
Lofty Ambitions
The tallest mural in North County stretches 60 feet high on the facade of the 42-unit Found Lofts building, lending a huge splash of urban color to Vista’s booming downtown. For developer Lev Gershman of Tideline Partners, the neighborhood is perfectly positioned for increased density and smaller living.
“Vista has a clarity of vision for community planning,” says Gershman, who has other projects in the works there. “They know that density will support unique, eclectic local businesses—the mom-and-pop ones.”
Found Lofts, part of Vista’s walkable Arts and Culture district, has a boutique-hotel feel thanks to touches like concrete floors, Pottery Barn bathroom fixtures, spacious balconies, and cutting-edge tech. “It was a steep learning curve, but we leaned into technology as a way of creating efficiency and sustainability,” Gershman says. “Every tenant has a smart home.”
At 435 square feet, the building’s studios required a municipal code change. “The smallest units rented in two weeks,” he adds. “We demonstrated a need and addressed it.”
This article originally appeared in San Diego Magazine
The Changing Landscape of the Office
The future demand for traditional office space continues to evolve after the landscape changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That change has been positive for many office workers who prefer to work remotely – or a hybrid of remote and in-office. Employees who have proven they are productive working remotely are asking their employers to continue to allow them to work remotely or blend remote work with in-office work.
Even though working from home sounds appealing, it does pose challenges. In-home offices tend to lack basic equipment and supplies found in a traditional office, including heavy-duty printers for larger projects, high speed copiers, conference rooms, and opportunities to socialize face-to-face and build relationships.
Home workspaces can be an issue too, especially in a real estate market such as San Diego where living spaces tend to be smaller. At Murfey Company, we have noticed that a number of our residents are interested in renting larger apartment units to accommodate at-home office/workspace.
While it is too soon to say that remote is here to stay, the trend is forcing companies to rethink how to adapt to the demand.
One work-around in large cities is the development of satellite offices. These offices provide the tech and space needed for employees to get work done efficiently. Other trends are flex space and coworking space, both of which offer shorter leasing terms options.
Some companies who want to entice workers to return to the office are recreating their office environment. One example is a construction engineering firm in Chicago which enhanced its downtown office space with a full bar and a rooftop patio to encourage socializing. Employees also are allowed to bring their dogs to work.
In keeping with these trends, Murfey Company is expanding our office to allow for more collaboration and amenity space, including an employee lounge. We’re also aiming to mirror the tranquility of a home office by building more private offices for our employees. By allowing our team flexibility in their schedules, hybrid work environment options, and enhanced amenities in the office, we hope to meet the evolving demands of the job market, while promoting a creative and productive atmosphere focused on work-life balance.
The idea of live-work-play communities, traditionally called mixed-use developments, are on the rise. Murfey Company specializes in creating these unique and thriving mixed-use communities where residents can live, work and play all within the same neighborhood. And our projects offer excellent examples of creating exciting mixed use urban infill environments.
Because these communities promote the idea that people can go to their jobs, live nearby in affordable homes and access public spaces and recreational activities, companies located in these live-work-play communities are positioned to persuade employees to join their team.
What does the future look like?
It might be a while before anyone has a solid idea of what to expect in the long run. Commercial leases generally are 5 to 7 years, so it’s not clear what will happen to the leasable space when those leases expire.
But industry experts do predict that updated buildings with more amenities will be more attractive to companies interested in leasing space than older buildings with outdated space, poor ventilation systems and a lack of amenities.
Murfey Company, a leader in commercial and residential construction, is a trusted partner in developing projects throughout Southern California. For more information, visit www.murfeycompany.com.
This article originally appeared in The La Jolla Light
Innovative real estate that is a win for the local economy and the environment
Southeastern San Diego, a historically divested community, is home to Hilltop Crossing, a development making attainable housing a reality without the use of special subsidies
Hilltop Crossing, a new development at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Hilltop Drive, will bring 47 much-needed housing units. This initiative not only creates attainable housing but also engages diverse sub-contractors and incorporates thoughtful energy-efficient features.
Elected officials help break ground
On May 13, longtime San Diego developers Robert Ito and Roxanne Girard of Ito Girard & Associates and Jack McGrory of La Jolla MJ Management broke ground on this development.
Joining them were elected officials Chair of the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors Nathan Fletcher, City of San Diego Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe, City of San Diego Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, and representatives from the office of California Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins. County of San Diego Accessor Taxpayer Advocate Jordan Marks also attended.
Mission Driven Finance Chief Investment Officer was invited to speak about the financing that went into the development.
Girard shared a powerful personal story of the challenges she faced when purchasing her first home as a young single parent.
“There’s no way to describe in words the feeling that you have when you move into your own home,” Girard shared, adding that the development includes assistance for first-time homeowners like she was 40 years ago.
What is Hilltop Crossing?
Ito Girard & Associates and McGrory are building attainable housing units for households earning 81% to 120% of the Area Median Income, or AMI. Attainable housing units, as opposed to deed-restricted affordable housing units, are built without any special subsidies for developers.
The developers are investing in the future of the community by creating attainable housing. They are particularly interested in seeing people who grew up nearby become homeowners.
“While Hilltop Crossing does not have a prevailing wage requirement as it is not a public works project, Ito Girard & Associates and La Jolla MJ Management are committed to the economic growth of the community,” says Robert Ito of Ito Girard & Associates.
Hilltop Crossing is also a clean energy development that has procured goods and services from minority-owned firms. Most of its contracts so far are going to minority-owned subcontractors. This ensures that the Southeastern San Diego community participates in and reaps the benefits of the green economy.
Ito shared that in phase I, 46% of subcontract dollars were awarded to minority-owned businesses. These subcontractors live in the community and/or are committed to providing quality jobs in the community.
Why is supplier diversity important?
Affiliate members of the Black Contractors Association of California (BCA) secured contracts with the development. Abdur-Rahim Hameed, founder and executive president of BCA, says, “The inclusion of the community’s talent force in its infrastructure is a smart business imperative for equitable economic growth.”
The San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has identified addressing the affordability crisis and equipping small businesses to compete as two of the three main goals to create an inclusive economy to help build a stronger San Diego. To achieve these goals, the region needs more thriving households and quality jobs.
Mark Cafferty, president and CEO of San Diego Regional EDC, shares one way to grow quality jobs. “The economic impact from procurement of local, small, and diverse businesses is critical to San Diego’s economic growth,” he says. “The local spend made by large buyers, including real estate developers and contractors, will boost small business resilience and enable an increase in quality jobs across the region.”
Where impact investing comes in
The urgent need to address housing, as well as economic, health, and environmental disparities, has catalyzed the support of impact investors, including Mission Driven Finance.
Oralia Alvarez, director of business development at Mission Driven Finance, shares, “Hilltop Crossing’s procurement should serve as a model for both public and private markets on how they can create local opportunities.”
With the support of Mission Driven Finance, the developers created a financial structure that made it possible for individual investors and foundations—including BQuest Foundation and Alliance Healthcare Foundation—to make direct investments.
Mission Driven Finance is committed to providing capital to minority-owned subcontractors and contractors in the region, as well as to working with organizations on supplier diversity.
If you know any suppliers or contractors seeking financing, please refer them to us, or contact us at (858) 880-0252 x1 or borrow@missiondrivenfinance.com.
To be added to the Hilltop Crossing interest list, complete this form.
Further reading
- Why you need a supplier diversity program
- How market-rate developers deliver affordable housing in San Francisco
- The difference between market-rate and affordable housing
- San Diego Regional EDC has identified the 3 main goals for San Diego to be a strong economy, and includes housing and supplier diversity (procurement)
- San Diego Regional EDC: Smart economic development is inclusive economic development
- San Diego Regional EDC: the role of anchor institutions in supplier diversity
This article originally appeared on Mission Driven Finance
Committed to developing affordable housing
Everyone deserves to live in a comfortable, clean, affordable place they call home.
It’s no secret that San Diego is an expensive place to live. Throughout our city, residents at all income levels are experiencing a lack of affordable housing options at their price point.
Murfey Company has been committed to constructing affordable housing since completing our first development in Pacific Beach 10 years ago. We continue to design and build housing that is more affordable for all San Diegans.
Our multifamily residential development rents are geared toward one-income households: the single adult living on their own or the young college grad who is moving into their own place for the first time.
We accomplish this mission in many ways.
Generally, Murfey Company constructs studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment homes. These units feature modest square footage and include desirable amenities, such as washer and dyers. The property themselves offer curb appeal and a great location in which the walkability factor is high.
Many of our units are planned in areas of the city that are being redeveloped and revitalized. Banker’s Hill, Point Loma, Hillcrest and Pacific Beach are neighborhoods where you will see these types of Murfey Company projects.
Currently, we are developing a 100-unit project, Secoya (pictured), in Banker’s Hill that will offer 73 very affordable studio apartments for people seeking housing in the city. This property features a hot tub, outside grilling area with backyard space for entertaining, and an 8th floor roof top deck with views of the city and Coronado.
We also are developing a single-family home neighborhood at CA-94 and Euclid Avenue. This is a 47-unit single-family home development that has 20 detached homes and 27 townhomes. Murfey Company is proud that this development will give first-time homebuyers the opportunity to enter the real estate home market.
Our success is a reflection of the City of San Diego’s policies and programs. Mayor Todd Gloria and city officials are committed to the affordable housing. Murfey Company benefits from city incentives, which in turn allows us to build more affordable housing units.
As native San Diegans, my brother Russ and myself want to see San Diego grow, thrive and succeed. We are doing our part to maintain San Diego’s reputation as an amazing place for businesses and communities. Providing affordable housing supports these goals.
Murfey Company is a leader in both residential and nonresidential development in San Diego and Southern California that is committed to excellence. For more information, visit www.murfeycompany.com.
This article originally appeared in The La Jolla Light
Tom York on Business: Investment fund Boosts ‘Missing Middle’ Apartment Projects
San Diego’s Middlemarch Fund, created to finance construction for the “missing middle” — buyers who earn too much to qualify for government subsidies but not enough to pay market-rate rents — has invested in the $30 million Secoya on Fifth project, an eight-story mixed-income building on Bankers Hill that will have more than 100 apartments.
Co-developer the Murfey Co. expects construction to be completed in late 2022. Bishop Ventures is the other developer behind the project.
The project includes almost 2,800 square feet of retail space, but no parking for the residential units.
According to one news report, the rental rates for the studio apartments are expected to start around $1,495 per month —affordable for a “low-income” single person earning 70% of the county’s median income, or $59,400 per year. Most of the apartments in the building will be studio units.
Secoya on Fifth was first project to receive an equity investment from Middlemarch, developed by Norwood Development Strategies founder and managing member Debbie Ruane.
Orange County’s hotel sales broker Atlas Hospitality Group has issued its mid-year 2021 hotel sales report, which includes the sales of hotel properties in San Diego County.
By June 30, a total of 28 properties were sold compared to 10 at the same time in 2020. Total sales in county hit $622 million, up 525% from the same period in 2021.
The highest priced sale of a hotel in the past six months was the 210-room Hotel Indigo in San Diego’s bustling Gaslamp Quarter.
The sales tag came to $180 million, according to the semi-annual report.
Orange County’s hotel sales broker Atlas Hospitality Group has issued its mid-year 2021 hotel sales report, which includes the sales of hotel properties in San Diego County.
By June 30, a total of 28 properties were sold compared to 10 at the same time in 2020. Total sales in county hit $622 million, up 525% from the same period in 2021.
The highest priced sale of a hotel in the past six months was the 210-room Hotel Indigo in San Diego’s bustling Gaslamp Quarter.
The sales tag came to $180 million, according to the semi-annual report.
Eight-year-old venture-funded startup LawnLove, which bills itself at the Uber of lawn care, has been acquired, and will merge with Austin, Texas-based competitor LawnStarter.
Jeremy Yamaguchi, LawnLove founder and CEO, said the merger will “create the largest provider of residential lawn maintenance in the country.” Yamaguchi also said everyone will remain in place after the merger, with no job losses.
The startup had received funding from such high-level investors as Y Combinator, Alexis Ohanian, football great Joe Montana and TV show investor Barbara Corcoran.
Yamaguchi said the lawn care industry has been booming since the start of COVID-19 pandemic.
Jeremy Yamaguchi, LawnLove founder and CEO, said the merger will “create the largest provider of residential lawn maintenance in the country.” Yamaguchi also said everyone will remain in place after the merger, with no job losses.
The startup had received funding from such high-level investors as Y Combinator, Alexis Ohanian, football great Joe Montana and TV show investor Barbara Corcoran.
Yamaguchi said the lawn care industry has been booming since the start of COVID-19 pandemic.
The $28 million was $4 million less than the $32 million spent last year by the agency.
San Diego’s fast-growing bioengineering startup Genomatica said it has raised $118 million in a new funding round led by venture capital firm Novo Holdings. The fund-raise brings Genomatica’s total funding to $388 million.
The company reports that its sales this year have reached $48 million.
The Genomatica website recently reported that it had reached an agreement with food-focused industrial conglomerate Cargill to scale up production of its bio-based butanediol, used in the production of such products athletic apparel and seat cushions, to more than 100,000 tons.
The new facility will triple its production capabilities when it comes online in 2024.
Finally, some North County news…The Carlsbad Aquafarm, Southern California’s lone shellfish farm raising Pacific oysters and Mediterranean mussel, says it has introduced a tour and farm discovery walk, which explains the techniques and equipment needed to grow oysters, as well as showing how the farming process protects the natural ecosystem of the lagoon.
The farm has been in operation since the late 1960s.
Check out the website for details on the “farm” tours.
Tom York is a Carlsbad-based independent journalist who specializes in writing about business and the economy. If you have news tips you’d like to share, send them to tom.york@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on timesofsandiego.com
Finding the right builder
You have decided to tackle a home rebuild or initiate a major home improvement project, and the next step is to find the right builder.
Tip #1: It’s all about the details
All building projects have a budget and a timeline, so do your homework before meeting with potential builders. Before selecting the right construction company for your project, be sure you know what you want to achieve. A builder cannot offer an accurate bid or create a timeline without knowing the details. This will save time and money. It is common for clients to ask for changes to a project, which increases the costs and time.
Tip #2 Reputation matters
Choose to interview builders who are licensed, reputable and local. Ask for a list of past projects and past client references.
Why a local builder?
For starters, you can visit a couple of their finished projects and check out the completed work. Local builders generally use local suppliers and subcontractors. This will help your project stay on track, on budget and on time.
Tip #3 Spell out the terms
A building contract is a must and do not work with a contractor/builder who does not provide a written contract. There are many forms of a contract. Contracts for residential projects often include the drawings and schedules so it is clear what is included and what is not. And the payment terms are agreed upon before work begins, too. Remember, a contract addresses the “what ifs”, such as: What if the work is changed along the way? What if the project takes longer than agreed?
Tip #4 Hire the general contractor early in the design process
You are seeking a company that is committed to excellence at every step from bringing in their subcontractors, executing the complete scope, to meeting deadlines, providing a quality end-product, and protecting the owner’s interest by managing a budget, providing appropriate insurance, and tracking lien releases.
The earlier in the process that you can hire the general contractor, the better it is in the end. Even before the design begins, they can start saving you money and providing you with valuable feedback. It is common to hire the general contractor early under a preconstruction contract before awarding the general construction contract.
An easy way to select a general contractor early in the process (before the plans and scope are ready to be bid) is to interview your top choices for general contractor. Use a placeholder value for the hard construction costs (i.e., the “sticks and bricks”) and then ask the construction company to provide pricing for their overhead, fee, management, and supervision based off that placeholder value. Ultimately, these fees are what a general contractor can control and negotiate early; the remaining project costs are going to be based off market pricing from subcontractors according to the design and scope of the project as dictated by the client (i.e., outside the general contractors control).
The company with the lowest pricing is not necessarily the best choice; the most experienced and most qualified company will save you time, effort and heartache in the long run.
After the general contractor is hired they can start digging into the project. Through competitive bidding, a qualified general contractor will be able to compare and negotiate subcontractor costs for services, materials and labor for each of the components of the project on behalf of the client. Depending on the size of a project, three to five bids are reasonable. The general contractor will also be able to provide valuable cost savings ideas to help implement the design and client vision.
We appreciate it when potential clients let us know early that they have identified Murfey Company as their strongest candidate and would like to ask for additional information. This gives a general contractor the opportunity to answer more detailed questions and to start providing more time and attention to the potential project.
Tip #5 Stay calm
The final stage of the project sometimes can be a little bit rough for the property owner and the builder. The owner can be anxious to get the project completed, and the builder still has many loose ends to tie up.
To minimize potential frustrations, write a comprehensive list of items that the builder needs to complete and review it together. Before you know it, you will be enjoying your new space.
Murfey Company has been helping San Diegans Create Their Lifestyle since 2009. For more information go to www.murfeycompany.com.
This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light
Murfey Co. bringing back ‘force’-ful Bird Rock Fourth of July Parade
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away … it was a dark time for the rebel neighborhood. Although the death star virus had been destroyed, the people had not been able to celebrate the independence of their beloved rebel nation in the way they were accustomed. Over a year later, the people have left their bases and are taking to the streets for well-deserved fun, parade and party. The 4th is strong in these ones, and they will celebrate freedom once again.”
So read the shirts that volunteers will wear at the 42nd annual Bird Rock Fourth of July Parade, themed “May the Fourth of July Be With You.” The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 4, along Beaumont Avenue. It was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19-related restrictions on gatherings.
The event will be slightly modified, organizers said, but will still aim to create the community joy of past years.
“We’re excited to have a reopening and opportunity to celebrate coming out of this stressful year and a half. But we’ve eliminated some things that would put people in close quarters, like kids [bounce houses]. And in the past, there was food and hot dogs donated by the community … but we’ve eliminated that, so no donated food,” said organizer Russ Murfey of the Murfey Co. construction firm. “We are encouraging social distancing and will have increased hand-washing stations. Luckily, the entire event is outside, which is a safe spot to be.”
Murfey and his brother Scott have run the parade for six years and have attended since they were children.
“The parade is always important to us, it has a special spot for us from our childhood and through our lives. Now that we have children, we get to pass along that celebration,” Russ Murfey said. “As far as this year goes, this is the opportunity to see a lot of people we haven’t seen in a long time.”
Planning for this year’s parade started in April, around the time the state announced its intention to fully reopen the economy and lift its COVID-19-related tier system on June 15.
“We were holding off for that information; that was a major driver in the decision,” Murfey said. “Thankfully, we have the city permit process dialed in [from past parades] and it was just a matter of getting our ducks in a row. It’s part and parcel with our everyday work. The parade ends up being a mini-project we enjoy working on.”
When it came to choosing a theme, organizers were looking for something in pop culture that “the kids would like,” Murfey said.
Resident Josh Oliver, who Murfey said “usually makes one of the best floats and goes all out,” came up with “May the Fourth of July Be With You,” a nod to the “Star Wars” phrase “May the force be with you.”
Murfey said the theme had extra significance for him and his wife, Maureen. “My son was born on May 4 (culturally known as Star Wars Day), so having a theme for him, I think, is hilarious.”
Maureen came up with the shirt design, and the theme was set. So get ready for floats adorned with droids, Death Stars and maybe Darth Vader.
“Our hope is that people go all out with the floats,” Murfey said. “The floats are what make the parade unique. Some floats can barely roll and some are built like a Sherman tank. Some people decorate a wagon the morning of, others plan it for weeks. It’s all about having fun, getting creative and getting the kids involved. We want to create some memories with something fun and unique.”
Donations to help support food and entertainment are being accepted at gofundme.com/f/2021birdrock4thofjulyparade.
Business Spotlight features commercial enterprises that support this publication.
This article originally appeared in the La Jola Light
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