Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIESBasis of Presentation – The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our consolidated subsidiaries.  All intercompany amounts have been eliminated. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which requires us to make 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. 

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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 adopted this update on January 1, 2022 and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Real Estate – Real estate is carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization.  As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the carrying amount of our real estate, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization, was $698,869,000 and $720,921,000, respectively.  Maintenance and repairs are generally expensed as incurred.  Depreciation requires an estimate by management of the useful life of each property and improvement as well as an allocation of the costs associated with a property to its various components. We capitalize all property operating expenses directly associated with and attributable to, the development and construction of a project, including interest expense. The capitalization period begins when development activities are underway and ends when it is determined that the asset is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, which is typically evidenced by the receipt of a temporary certificate of occupancy. General and administrative costs are expensed as incurred.

Our properties, including properties to be developed in the future, are individually reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable.  An impairment exists when the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset, including an estimated terminal value calculated using an appropriate capitalization rate.  Estimates of future cash flows are based on our current plans, intended holding periods and available market information at the time the analyses are prepared.  For our development properties, estimates of future cash flows also include all future expenditures necessary to develop the asset, including interest payments that will be capitalized as part of the cost of the asset.  An impairment loss is recognized only if the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable and is measured based on the excess of the property’s carrying amount over its estimated fair value.  If our estimates of future cash flows, anticipated holding periods, or fair values change, based on market conditions or otherwise, our evaluation of impairment charges may be different and such differences could be material to our consolidated financial statements.  Estimates of future cash flows are subjective and are based, in part, on assumptions regarding future occupancy, rental rates and capital requirements that could differ materially from actual results.  Plans to hold properties over longer periods decrease the likelihood of recording impairment losses.

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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 and current credit status 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.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value, due to their short-term maturities.  The majority of our cash and cash equivalents consist of (i) deposits at major commercial banks, which may at times exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limit, (ii) United States Treasury Bills, (iii) money market funds, which invest in United States Treasury Bills and (iv) certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”).  To date we have not experienced any losses on our invested cash.   

Restricted Cash – Restricted cash primarily consists of security deposits and other cash escrowed under loan agreements, including for debt service, real estate taxes, property insurance and capital improvements.

Deferred Charges – Direct financing costs are deferred and amortized over the terms of the related agreements as a component of interest and debt expense.  Direct costs related to leasing activities are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the lives of the related leases.  All other deferred charges are amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest rate method, in accordance with the terms of the agreements to which they relate.

Income Taxes – We operate in a manner intended to enable us to continue to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856 – 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code, we must distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to stockholders each year.  We distribute to our stockholders 100% of our taxable income and therefore, no provision for Federal income taxes is required.  Dividends distributed for the year ended December 31, 2021 were characterized, for federal income tax purposes, as 58.3% ordinary income and 41.7% long-term capital gain income. Dividends distributed for the year ended December 31, 2020 were characterized, for federal income tax purposes, as 100% ordinary income. Dividends distributed for the year ended December 31, 2019 were categorized, for federal income tax purposes, as 99.6% ordinary income and 0.4% long-term capital gain income. 

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The estimated taxable income attributable to our common stockholders (unaudited) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $101,184,000, $81,375,000, and $74,079,000, respectively. The book to tax differences between net income and estimated taxable income primarily result from differences in the income recognition or deductibility of depreciation and amortization, gains or losses from the sale of real estate and other capital transactions, straight-line rent adjustments, the change in fair value of marketable securities and income from discontinued operations.

As of December 31, 2021, the net basis of our assets and liabilities for tax reporting purposes was approximately $144,100,000 lower than the amount reported for financial statement purposes.