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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation Basis of Presentation and Consolidation. The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The financial statements reflect the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company consolidates its wholly-owned subsidiaries, partnerships and joint ventures which it controls (i) through voting rights or similar rights or (ii) by means other than voting rights if the Company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity ("VIE"). Entities which the Company does not control and entities which are VIEs in which the Company is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share. Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) reduced by preferred dividends and amounts allocated to certain non-vested share-based payment awards, if applicable, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share amounts are similarly computed but include the effect, when dilutive, of in-the-money common share options and non-vested common shares, unsettled common shares sold in forward sales transactions, OP units and put options of certain convertible securities.
Use of Estimates Use of Estimates. Management has made a number of significant estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses to prepare these consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP. These estimates and assumptions are based on management's best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the economic environment. Management adjusts such estimates when facts and circumstances dictate. The most significant estimates made include the recoverability of accounts receivable, allocation of property purchase price to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, the determination of VIEs and which entities should be consolidated, the determination of impairment of long-lived assets and equity method investments, valuation of derivative financial instruments, valuation of awards granted under compensation plans, the determination of the incremental borrowing rate for leases where the Company is the lessee and the useful lives of long-lived assets. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes lease revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease unless another systematic and rational basis is more representative of the time pattern in which the use benefit is derived from the leased property. Revenue is recognized on a contractual basis for leases with escalations tied to a consumer price index with no floor. The Company evaluates the collectability of its rental payments and recognizes revenue on a cash basis when the Company believes it is no longer probable that it will receive substantially all of the remaining lease payments. Renewal options in leases with rental terms that are lower than those in the primary term are excluded from the calculation of straight-line rent if the renewals are not reasonably assured. If the Company funds tenant improvements and the improvements are deemed to be owned by the Company, revenue recognition will commence when the improvements are substantially completed and possession or control of the space is turned over to the tenant. If the Company determines that the tenant allowances are lease incentives, the Company commences revenue recognition when possession or control of the space is turned over to the tenant for tenant work to begin. The lease incentive is recorded as a deferred expense and amortized as a reduction of revenue on a straight-line basis over the respective lease term. The Company recognizes lease termination fees as rental revenue in the period received and writes off unamortized lease-related intangible and other lease-related account balances, provided there are no further Company obligations under the lease. Otherwise, such fees and balances are recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining obligation period with the termination payments being recorded as a component of rent receivable-deferred on the consolidated balance sheets.
Acquisition of Real Estate Acquisition of Real Estate. The fair value of the real estate acquired, which includes the impact of fair value adjustments for assumed mortgage debt related to property acquisitions, is allocated to the acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, building and improvements and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market leases, other value of in-place leases and value of tenant relationships, based in each case on their fair values. Prior to January 1, 2018, acquisition and pursuit costs were expensed as incurred and were included in property operating expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company's acquisitions are primarily considered asset acquisitions and acquisition costs are now capitalized.
The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property (which includes land, building and improvements and fixtures and equipment) is determined by valuing the property as if it were vacant. The “as-if-vacant” value is then allocated to land and building and improvements based on management's determination of relative fair values of these assets. Factors considered by management in performing these analyses include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, management includes real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses and estimates of lost rental revenue during the expected lease-up periods based on current market demand. Management also estimates costs to execute similar leases including leasing commissions. Management generally retains a third party to assist in the allocations.
In allocating the fair value of the identified intangible assets and liabilities of an acquired property, above-market and below-market lease values are recorded based on the difference between the current in-place lease rent and management's estimate of current market rents. Below-market lease intangibles are recorded as part of deferred revenue and amortized into rental revenue over the non-cancelable periods and bargain renewal periods of the respective leases. Above-market leases are recorded as part of intangible assets and amortized as a direct charge against rental revenue over the non-cancelable portion of the respective leases.
The aggregate value of other acquired intangible assets, consisting of in-place leases and tenant relationship values, is measured by the excess of (1) the purchase price paid for a property over (2) the estimated fair value of the property as if vacant, determined as set forth above. This aggregate value is allocated between in-place lease values and tenant relationship values based on management's evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant's lease. The value of in-place leases is amortized to expense over the remaining non-cancelable periods and any bargain renewal periods of the respective leases. The value of tenant relationships is amortized to expense over the applicable lease term plus expected renewal periods.
Depreciation is determined by the straight-line method over the remaining estimated economic useful lives of the properties. The Company generally depreciates its real estate assets over periods ranging up to 40 years.
Impairment of Real Estate Impairment of Real Estate. The Company evaluates the carrying value of all tangible and intangible real estate assets held for investment for possible impairment when an event or change in circumstance has occurred that indicates its carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company considers the strategic decisions regarding the future plans to sell properties and other market factors. The Company regularly updates significant estimates and assumptions including rental rates, capitalization rates and discount rates, which are included in the anticipated future undiscounted cash flows derived from the asset. If such cash flows are less than the asset's carrying value, an impairment charge is recognized to the extent by which the asset's carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value, which may be below the balance of any non-recourse financing. Estimating future cash flows and fair values is highly subjective and such estimates could differ materially from actual results.
Investments in Non-Consolidated Entities Investments in Non-Consolidated Entities. The Company accounts for its investments in 50% or less owned entities under the equity method, unless consolidation is required. If the Company's investment in the entity is insignificant and the Company has no influence over the control of the entity then the entity is accounted for under the cost method.
Impairment of Equity Method Investments Impairment of Equity Method Investments. The Company assesses whether there are indicators that the value of its equity method investments may be impaired. An impairment charge is recognized only if the Company determines that a decline in the value of the investment below its carrying value is other-than-temporary. The assessment of impairment is highly subjective and involves the application of significant assumptions and judgments about the Company's intent and ability to recover its investment given the nature and operations of the underlying investment, including the level of the Company's involvement therein, among other factors. To the extent an impairment is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the loss is measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the investment over the estimated fair value of the investment.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements. The Company follows the guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("Topic 820"), to determine the fair value of financial and non-financial instruments. Topic 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Topic 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, which 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, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible, as well as considering counterparty credit risk. The Company has formally elected to apply the portfolio exception within Topic 820 with respect to measuring counterparty risk for all of its derivative transactions subject to master netting arrangements.
The Company estimates the fair value of its real estate assets, including non-consolidated real estate assets, by using income and market valuation techniques. The Company may estimate fair values using market information such as recent sale contracts (Level 2 inputs) or recent sale offers or discounted cash flow models, which primarily rely on Level 3 inputs. The cash flow models include estimated cash inflows and outflows over a specified holding period. These cash flows may include contractual rental revenues, projected future rental revenues and expenses and forecasted tenant improvements and lease commissions based upon market conditions determined through discussion with local real estate professionals, experience the Company has with its other owned properties in such markets and expectations for growth. Capitalization rates and discount rates utilized in these models are estimated by management based upon rates that management believes to be within a reasonable range of current market rates for the respective properties based upon an analysis of factors such as property and tenant quality, geographical location and local supply and demand observations. To the extent the Company under-estimates forecasted cash outflows (tenant improvements, lease commissions and operating costs) or over-estimates forecasted cash inflows (rental revenue rates), the estimated fair value of its real estate assets could be overstated.
Cost Capitalization Cost Capitalization. We capitalize interest and direct and indirect project costs associated with the initial construction of a property up to the time the property is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. In addition, we capitalize operating costs, including real estate taxes, insurance and utilities, that have been allocated to vacant space based on the square footage of the portion of the building not held available for immediate occupancy during the extended lease-up periods after the construction of the building shell has been completed if costs are being incurred to ready the vacant space for its intended use. If costs and activities incurred to ready the vacant space cease, then cost capitalization is also discontinued until such activities are resumed. Once necessary work has been completed on a vacant space, project costs are no longer capitalized.
Properties Held For Sale Properties Held For Sale. Assets and liabilities of properties that meet various held for sale criteria, including whether it is probable that a sale will occur within 12 months, are presented separately in the consolidated balance sheets. The operating results of these properties are reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations only if the sale of these assets represents a strategic shift in operations; if not, the operating results are included in continuing operations. Properties classified as held for sale are carried at the lower of net carrying value or estimated fair value less costs to sell and depreciation and amortization are no longer recognized. Properties that do not meet the held for sale criteria are accounted for as operating properties.
Deferred Expenses Deferred Expenses. Deferred expenses consist primarily of revolving line of credit debt and leasing costs. Debt costs are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the interest method, over the terms of the debt instruments and leasing costs are amortized over the term of the related lease.
Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative Financial Instruments. The Company accounts for its interest rate swap agreements in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging ("Topic 815"). In accordance with Topic 815, these agreements are carried on the balance sheet at their respective fair values, as an asset if fair value is positive, or as a liability if fair value is negative. If the interest rate swap is designated as a cash flow hedge, the portion of the interest rate swap's change in fair value is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).Upon entering into hedging transactions, the Company documents the relationship between the interest rate swap agreement and the hedged item. The Company also documents its risk-management policies, including objectives and strategies, as they relate to its hedging activities. The Company assesses, both at inception of a hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether or not the hedge is highly effective. The Company will discontinue hedge accounting on a prospective basis with changes in the estimated fair value reflected in earnings when (1) it is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting cash flows of a hedged item (including forecasted transactions), (2) it is no longer probable that the forecasted transaction will occur or (3) it is determined that designating the derivative as an interest rate swap is no longer appropriate. The Company does and may continue to utilize interest rate swap and cap agreements to manage interest rate risk, but does not anticipate entering into derivative transactions for speculative trading purposes.
Stock Compensation Stock Compensation. The Company maintains an equity participation plan. Non-vested share grants generally vest either based upon (1) time, (2) performance and/or (3) market conditions. All share-based payments to employees are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations based on their fair values.
Tax Status
Tax Status. The Company has made an election to qualify, and believes it is operating so as to qualify, as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company generally will not be subject to federal income tax, provided that distributions to its shareholders equal at least the amount of its REIT taxable income as defined under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.
The Company is permitted to participate in certain activities from which it was previously precluded in order to maintain its qualification as a REIT, so long as these activities are conducted in entities which elect to be treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries under the Code. As such, the Company is subject to federal and state income taxes on the income from these activities.

Income taxes, primarily related to the Company's taxable REIT subsidiaries, are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash Restricted Cash. Restricted cash is comprised primarily of cash balances held in escrow by lender and operating cash reserves held in escrow for one property.
Environmental Matters Environmental Matters. Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, an owner of real property may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances at, on, in or under such property as well as certain other potential costs relating to hazardous or toxic substances. These liabilities may include government fines, penalties and damages for injuries to persons and adjacent property. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner knew of, or was responsible for, the presence or disposal of such substances. Although most of the tenants of properties in which the Company has an interest are primarily responsible for any environmental damage and claims related to the leased premises, in the event of the bankruptcy or inability of the tenant of such premises to satisfy any obligations with respect to such environmental liability, or if the tenant is not responsible, the Company's property owner subsidiary may be required to satisfy any such obligations, should they exist. In addition, the property owner subsidiary, as the owner of such a property, may be held directly liable for any such damages or claims irrespective of the provisions of any lease.
Segment Reporting Segment Reporting. The Company operates generally in one industry segment, single-tenant real estate assets.
Reclassification Reclassifications. Certain amounts included in prior years' financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.
New Accounting Standards Adopted in 2020 and Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
New Accounting Standards Adopted in 2020. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires that entities use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of an allowance for credit losses. The measurement of expected credit losses is based upon historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. ASU No. 2016-13 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020 on a prospective basis. The Company analyzed its accounts receivable using an aging methodology and determined that there have been no historical credit losses related to its outstanding accounts receivable. As a result, the Company's adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other- Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40). This ASU addresses customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract and also adds certain disclosure requirements related to implementation costs incurred for internal-use software and cloud computing arrangements. The amendment aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The standard was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020 on a prospective basis. The Company's adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. This ASU includes additional disclosures requirements for recurring and nonrecurring Level 3 fair value measurements including disclosure of changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income, disclosure of the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements and a narrative description of measurement uncertainty related to Level 3 measurements. This standard was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020 on a prospective basis. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). ASU 2020-04 contains practical expedients for reference rate reform related activities that impact debt, leases, derivatives and other contracts that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional, applies for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effect of) reference rate reform on financial reporting, in response to concerns about structural risks of interbank offered rates, and, particularly, the risk of cessation of LIBOR and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. As of March 31, 2020, the Company has 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. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur.
While the lease modification guidance in ASC Topic 842 ("Topic 842") addresses routine changes to lease terms resulting from negotiations between the lessee and the lessor, this guidance did not contemplate concessions being so rapidly executed to address the sudden liquidity constraints of some lessees arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, the FASB staff issued a question and answer document (the "Lease Modification Q&A") focused on the application of lease accounting guidance to lease concessions provided as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under existing lease guidance, the Company would have to determine, on a lease by lease basis, if a lease concession was the result of a new arrangement reached with the tenant (treated within the lease modification accounting framework) or if a lease concession was under the enforceable rights and obligations within the existing lease agreement (precluded from applying the lease modification accounting framework). The Lease Modification Q&A allows the Company, if certain criteria have been met, to bypass the lease by lease analysis, and instead elect to either apply the lease modification accounting framework or not, with such election applied consistently to leases with similar characteristics and similar circumstances. During 2020, the Company had no lease modifications that qualified for relief under Lease Modification Q&A. The Lease Modification Q&A's future impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements is dependent upon the extent of lease concessions granted to tenants as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in future periods and the elections made by the Company at the time of entering into such concessions.