INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES

(6) INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES

At April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011 investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures consisted of the following (with the Company's ownership percentage in parentheses): (amounts in thousands)

	April 30, 2012		October 31, 2011

Midway Shopping Center, L.P. (11.642%)	$	19,254	$	18,904
Putnam Plaza Shopping Center (66.67%)		6,717		6,757
81 Pondfield Road Company (20%)		723		723
Total	$	26,694	$	26,384

Midway Shopping Center, L.P.

The Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, owns an 11.642% equity interest in Midway Shopping Center L.P. ("Midway"), which owns a 247,000 square foot shopping center in Westchester County, New York. In addition, the Company loaned Midway, in the form of an unsecured note, approximately $13.2 million, which Midway used to repay $11.6 million in mortgage and unsecured loans, to complete certain tenants improvements at the property and to fund $960,000 for a good faith deposit in relation to a future mortgage refinancing. The loans to Midway by the Company require monthly payments to the Company of interest only at 5.75% per annum and will mature on January 1, 2013. The Company has evaluated its investment in Midway and has concluded that the venture is not a VIE and should not be consolidated into the financial statements of the Company. Although the Company only has an approximate 12% equity interest in Midway, it controls 25% of the voting power of Midway and as such has determined that it exercises significant influence over the financial and operating decisions of Midway and accounts for its investment in Midway under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting the initial investment is recorded at cost as an investment in unconsolidated joint venture, and subsequently adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions from the venture. Any difference between the carrying amount of the investment on the Company's balance sheet and the underlying equity in net assets of the venture is evaluated for impairment at each reporting period.

The Company has allocated the $7.4 million excess of the carrying amount of its investment in and advances to Midway over the Company's share of Midway's net book value to real property and is amortizing the difference over the property's estimated useful life of 39 years.

Midway currently has a non-recourse first mortgage payable in the amount of $14 million. The loan bears interest only at the rate of 5.75% per annum, which matures in January 2013. Midway's only other debt outstanding is its unsecured loan to the Company in the amount of $13.2 million.

Putnam Plaza Shopping Center

The Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, owns a 66.67% undivided equity interest in the Putnam Plaza Shopping Center ("Putnam Plaza"). The Company accounts for its investment in the Putnam Plaza joint venture under the equity method of accounting since it exercises significant influence, but does not control the venture. The other venturer in Putnam Plaza has substantial participation rights in the financial decisions and operation of the property, which preclude the Company from consolidating the investment. The Company has evaluated its investment in Putnam Plaza and has concluded that the venture is not a VIE. Under the equity method of accounting the initial investment is recorded at cost as an investment in unconsolidated joint venture, and subsequently adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions from the venture. Any difference between the carrying amount of the investment on the Company's balance sheet and the underlying equity in net assets of the venture is evaluated for impairment at each reporting period.

Putnam Plaza has a first mortgage loan and the minority investor in the venture has provided the first mortgage lender with a $2 million recourse guarantee, which guarantees payment and performance. The Company has entered into an agreement with the minority investor whereby the Company will participate in the guarantee up to 66.7%.

81 Pondfield Road Company

The Company's other investment in an unconsolidated joint venture is a 20% economic interest in a partnership which owns a retail and office building in Westchester County, New York.

- Definition

Equity investment disclosure, or group of investments for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20% of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is.

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