The Malibu Development Corporation built dozens of projects around Western Washington. But the new signature piece envisioned by CEO Bruce McCurdy is not only closer to home for the Kitsap-area resident, but also in a unique niche.

The Meridian, a mixed-use project being conveniently built across the street from Malibu’s Bainbridge Island office, is an innovative concept that mingles luxury condominiums with the hotel lifestyle. In addition to 18 single-level, spacious units, luxury resort amenities will be included — concierge service, hotel-style lobby with some retail space, and a rooftop fitness center with a wet bar, spa and sauna rooms.

“It’s an innovative way that is now being used at various resorts as well as in Seattle,” McCurdy said.

Malibu is not new to the concept — a similar but bigger project was built in Idaho. The company is acquiring land in Poulsbo and other areas for more condominium projects.

“We’re in the process of expanding and this is our template,” McCurdy said.

Adding to the uniqueness of this template is the fact that everything from materials to contractors, from interior design to financing is provided locally. Only one, highly specialized, trade is brought in from outside Kitsap.

“Bruce is a visionary. He is very creative and can envision what something will look like from the very beginning,” said Malibu’s Vice President of Marketing Nancy Ferrell.

That vision, the “dreaming stage,” comes naturally to him, McCurdy said. Being involved with construction early one may have helped: His father was a developer and the two have worked on projects together.

With a degree in education and resort development and planning, McCurdy started Malibu with the focus on hotels but has since worked on a variety of projects. The hospitality business, he says, just stays with a person after a while.
  As does the boat and hospitality business. A yacht builder before becoming a developer, McCurdy’s previous company kept one of its restored boats, the Malibu. Two full-time captains and 16 other employees chartered the boat that was for seven years leased by the Boeing Co.

The boat was eventually sold and McCurdy moved on to renovating hotels. But the name — and the yearning for the hospitality industry — has remained. In the 1990s, Malibu was dormant for a while as McCurdy sorted through other priorities. Once back, he took the company forward full-throttle and looks at expanding.

“We are in the project building mode but also in company building mode,” he said.

Malibu is carrying its unique concept yet one step further. Acting as developer and contractor for Meridian, the company also works directly with buyers for the units, and for five years will be the building manager. McCurdy, Ferrell and President John Erickson are all wearing different hats and loving it.
  Ferrell, who in the past owned her own construction company on Bainbridge Island that specialized in building custom log homes, oversees sales and works with potential homeowners. Erickson, a carpenter by trade, combines engineering and construction with sales and marketing.

For McCurdy himself, the project seems to be ideal.

“I love the dreaming, the design work and construction. But I love selling too,” said McCurdy, who is no stranger to condominium associations either.

Perhaps as Malibu Development has found its niche with the luxury condominiums, McCurdy has found his own.