XML 39 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES
3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2014
INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES [Abstract]  
INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES
(5) INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES

At January 31, 2014 and October 31, 2013 investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures consisted of the following (with the Company's ownership percentage in parentheses): (amounts in thousands)

 
 
January 31,
  
October 31,
 
 
 
2014
  
2013
 
 
 
  
 
Chestnut Ridge and Plaza 59 Shopping Centers (50.0%)
 
$
18,255
  
$
18,277
 
Putnam Plaza Shopping Center (66.67%)
  
6,408
   
5,668
 
Midway Shopping Center, L.P. (11.642%)
  
5,553
   
6,764
 
81 Pondfield Road Company (20%)
  
723
   
723
 
Total
 
$
30,939
  
$
31,432
 

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. 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 $32 million.  The loan requires payments of principal and interest at the rate of 4.80% per annum and will mature in 2027.

Chestnut Ridge and Plaza 59 Shopping Centers

The Company, through two wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a  undivided equity interest in the Chestnut Ridge Shopping Center located in Montvale, New Jersey ("Chestnut") and the Plaza 59 Shopping Center located in Spring Valley, New York ("Plaza 59") for a combined investment of approximately $18 million. The Company accounts for its investment in Chestnut and Plaza 59 under the equity method of accounting since it exercises significant influence, but does not control the ventures.  The other venturer in both properties 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 the two properties and has concluded that the ventures are not VIEs. 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 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 payable in the amount of $21 million.  The mortgage requires monthly payments of principal and interest at a fixed rate of 4.17% and will mature in 2019.

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.