Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and include the accounts of Alexander’s and its consolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany amounts have been eliminated and all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and changes in cash flows have been made. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC.

We have made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

We operate in one reportable segment.

Recently Issued Accounting Literature

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an update (“ASU 2020-04”) establishing Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 848, Reference Rate Reform. ASU 2020-04 contains practical expedients for reference rate reform related activities that impact debt, leases, derivatives and other contracts. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. We have elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness for future LIBOR-indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. We continue to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur.

In July 2021, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2021-05”) Lessors - Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments to ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). ASU 2021-05 provides additional ASC 842 classification guidance as it relates to a lessor’s accounting for certain leases with variable lease payments. ASU 2021-05 requires a lessor to classify a lease with variable payments that do not depend on an index or rate as an operating lease if either a sales-type lease or direct financing lease classification would trigger a day-one loss. ASU 2021-05 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2021-05 on our consolidated financial statements, but do not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Our rental revenues include revenues from the leasing of space to tenants at our properties and revenues from parking and tenant services. We have the following revenue recognition policies:  

•Lease revenues from the leasing of space to tenants at our properties. Revenues derived from base rent are recognized over the non-cancelable term of the related leases on a straight-line basis which includes the effects of rent steps and rent abatements. We commence rental revenue recognition when the underlying asset is available for use by the lessee. In addition, in circumstances where we provide a tenant improvement allowance for improvements that are owned by the tenant, we recognize the allowance as a reduction of rental revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Revenues derived from the reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance expenses and common area maintenance expenses are generally recognized in the same period as the related expenses are incurred. As lessor, we have elected to combine the lease components (base and variable rent), non-lease components (reimbursements of common area maintenance expenses) and reimbursement of real estate taxes and insurance expenses from our operating lease agreements and account for the components as a single lease component in accordance with ASC 842.

•Parking revenue arising from the rental of parking spaces at our properties. This income is recognized as the services are transferred in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”).

•Tenant services is revenue arising from sub-metered electric, elevator and other services provided to tenants at their request. This revenue is recognized as the services are transferred in accordance with ASC 606.

Under ASC 842, we must assess on an individual lease basis whether it is probable that we will collect substantially all of the future lease payments. We consider the tenant’s payment history, current credit status and other factors when assessing collectability. When collectability is not deemed probable, we write-off the tenant’s receivables, including straight-line rent receivable, and limit lease income to cash received. We recognize changes in the collectability assessment of our operating leases as adjustments to rental revenues. During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, there were no changes to our lease collectability assessment.

Marketable Securities

These shares are presented at fair value as “marketable securities” on our consolidated balance sheets and the gains and losses resulting from the mark-to-market of these securities are recognized in current period earnings.

Fair Value Measurement

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”) defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three levels: Level 1 – quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities; Level 2 – observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted in active markets, but corroborated by market data; and Level 3 – unobservable inputs that are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs and the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs. In determining fair value, we utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible, as well as consider counterparty credit risk in our assessment of fair value.