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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation/Basis of Preparation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership, its subsidiaries, and certain joint venture partnerships in which it participates. The Company consolidates all variable interest entities ("VIEs") for which it is the primary beneficiary. Generally, a VIE is an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (1) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, (2) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk (a) lack the power through voting or similar rights to make decisions about the entity's activities that significantly impact the entity's performance, (b) have no obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or (c) have no right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity, or (3) the equity investors have voting rights that are not proportional to their economic interests, and substantially all of the entity's activities either involve, or are conducted on behalf of, an investor that has disproportionately fewer voting rights. A VIE is required to be consolidated by its primary
beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE has (1) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. Significant judgments related to these determinations include estimates about the current values, performance of real estate held by these VIEs, and general market conditions.
Limited partnerships and other similar entities are considered variable interest entities unless the limited partners hold substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. Crossroads II, 60%-owned joint venture was consolidated as it was deemed to be a VIE and the Company was the primary beneficiary. The Company (1) guaranteed all related debt, (2) did not require its partners to fund additional capital requirements, (3) had an economic interest greater than its voting proportion and (4) directed the management activities that significantly impacted the performance of the joint venture. See Note 3, Real Estate, for additional details.
The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods covered by the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Real Estate Investments
Real estate investments are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. The provision for depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the respective assets of between 3 and 40 years, with buildings being depreciated at the upper end of the range. Depreciation expense, net of discontinued operations, amounted to $10.0 million and $8.5 million for 2023 and 2022, respectively. Expenditures for betterments that substantially extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and betterments that do not substantially prolong the normal useful life of an asset are charged to operations as incurred.
Real estate investments include costs of development and redevelopment activities, and construction in progress. Capitalized costs, including interest and other carrying costs during the construction and/or renovation periods, are included in the cost of the related asset and charged to operations through depreciation over the asset's estimated useful life. A variety of costs are incurred in the development and leasing of a property, such as pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes, salaries and related costs, and other costs incurred during the period of development. After a determination is made to capitalize a cost, it is allocated to the specific component of a project that is benefited. The Company ceases capitalization on the portions substantially completed and occupied, or held available for occupancy, and capitalizes only those costs associated with the portions under development. The Company considers a construction project to be substantially completed and held available for occupancy upon the completion of tenant improvements, but not later than one year from cessation of major construction activity.
The Company allocates the fair value of real estate acquired to land, buildings and improvements. In addition, the fair value of in-place leases is allocated to intangible lease assets and liabilities. The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property is determined by valuing the property as if it were vacant, which value is then allocated to land, buildings and improvements based on management's determination of the fair values of these assets. In valuing an acquired property's intangibles, factors considered by management include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods, such as real estate taxes, insurance, other operating expenses, and estimates of lost rental revenue during the expected lease-up periods based on its evaluation of current market demand. Management also estimates costs to execute similar leases, including leasing commissions, tenant improvements, legal and other related costs.
The values of acquired above market and below market leases are recorded based on the present values (using discount rates which reflect the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the differences between the contractual amounts to be received and management's estimate of market lease rates, measured over the terms of the respective leases that management deemed appropriate at the time of the acquisitions. Such valuations include consideration of the non-cancelable terms of the respective leases as well as any applicable renewal periods. The fair values associated with below market rental renewal options are determined based on the Company's experience and the relevant facts and circumstances that existed at the time of the acquisitions. The values of above market leases are amortized to rental income over the terms of the respective non-cancelable lease periods. The portion of the values of below market leases associated with the original non-cancelable lease terms are amortized to rental income over the terms of the respective non-cancelable lease periods. The portion of the values of the leases associated with below market renewal options that are likely of exercise are amortized to rental income over the respective renewal periods. The value of other intangible assets (including leasing commissions, tenant improvements, etc.) is amortized to expense over the applicable terms of the respective leases. If a lease were to
be terminated prior to its stated expiration or not renewed, all unamortized amounts relating to that lease would be recognized in operations at that time.
Management reviews each real estate investment for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a real estate investment may not be recoverable. The review of recoverability of real estate investments held for use is based on an estimate of the future cash flows that are expected to result from the real estate investment's use and eventual disposition. These cash flows consider factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of leasing demand, capital expenditures, competition and other factors. If an impairment event exists due to the projected inability to recover the carrying value of a real estate investment, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the carrying value exceeds estimated fair value.
Properties Held for Sale
The Company may decide to sell properties that are held for use. The Company records these properties as held for sale when management has committed to a plan to sell the assets, actively seeks a buyer for the assets, and the consummation of the sale is considered probable and is expected within one year.
The carrying values of the assets and liabilities of properties determined to be held for sale, principally the net book values of the real estate and the related mortgage loans payable expected to be assumed by the buyers, are reclassified as "held for sale" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets at the time such determinations are made, on a prospective basis only.
The Company, when applicable, conducts a continuing review of the values for all properties "held for sale" based on estimated sales prices and sales contracts entered into. Impairment charges/reversals, if applicable, are based on a comparison of the carrying values of the properties with either (1) actual sales prices less costs to sell for properties sold, or contract amounts less costs to sell for properties in the process of being sold, (2) estimated sales prices, less costs to sell, based on discounted cash flow analyses, if no contract amounts are being negotiated (see Note 4, Fair Value Measurements), or (3) with respect to land parcels, estimated sales prices, less costs to sell, based on comparable sales completed in the selected market areas. Prior to the Company's determination to dispose of properties, which are subsequently reclassified to "held for sale", the Company performs recoverability analyses based on the estimated undiscounted cash flows that are expected to result from the real estate investments' use and eventual disposal. The projected undiscounted cash flows of each property reflects that the carrying value of each real estate investment would be recovered. Properties meeting the "held for sale" criteria, are written down to the lower of their carrying value and estimated fair values less costs to sell.
The Company follows the guidance for reporting discontinued operations, whereby a disposal of an individual property or group of properties is required to be reported in "discontinued operations" only if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results. The results of operations for those properties not meeting such criteria are reported in "continuing operations" in the consolidated statements of operations.
Cash and Cash Equivalents / Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in banks and short-term investments with original maturities when purchased of less than ninety days.
The terms of the secured term loans may require the Company to deposit certain replacement and other reserves with its lenders. Such "restricted cash" is generally available only for property-level requirements for which the reserves have been established. Restricted cash represents amounts held by lenders for real estate taxes, insurance, reserves for capital improvements, leasing costs and tenant security deposits.
Fair Value Measurements
The accounting guidance for fair value measurement establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three levels:
Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
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 while also considering counterparty credit risk in the assessment of fair value.
Revenue Recognition and Receivables
The Company's underlying assets relating to rental revenue activity is solely retail space. The Company retains substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of these underlying assets and accounts for these leases as operating leases. The Company combines lease and nonlease components in lease contracts, which includes combining base rent and tenant reimbursement revenue.
Rental income with scheduled rent increases is recognized using the straight-line method over the respective non-cancelable terms of the leases. The aggregate excess of rental revenue recognized on a straight-line basis over the contractual base rents is included in receivables on the consolidated balance sheet. Leases also generally contain provisions under which the tenants reimburse the Company for a portion of property operating expenses and real estate taxes incurred, generally attributable to their respective allocable portions of gross leasable area. Such income is recognized in the periods earned. In addition, a limited number of operating leases contain contingent rent provisions under which tenants are required to pay, as additional rent, a percentage of their sales in excess of a specified amount.
The Company's leases generally require the tenant to reimburse the Company for a substantial portion of its expenses incurred in operating, maintaining, repairing, insuring and managing the shopping center and common areas (collectively defined as Common Area Maintenance or "CAM" expenses). This significantly reduces the Company's exposure to increases in costs and operating expenses resulting from inflation or other outside factors. These reimbursements are considered nonlease components which the Company combines with the lease component. The Company calculates the tenant's share of operating costs by multiplying the total amount of the operating costs by the tenant's pro-rata percentage of square footage to total square footage of the property. The Company also receives monthly payments for these reimbursements from substantially all its tenants throughout the year. The Company recognizes tenant reimbursements as variable lease income.
The Company defers recognition of contingent rental income until those specified sales targets are met. Revenues also include items such as lease termination fees, which tend to fluctuate more than rents from year to year. Termination fees are fees that the Company has agreed to accept in consideration for permitting certain tenants to terminate their lease prior to the contractual expiration. The Company recognizes lease termination fees, which are included in revenues on the consolidated statements of operations, in the year that the lease is terminated and collection of the fee is reasonably assured. Upon early lease termination, the Company records losses related to unrecovered intangibles and other assets.
The Company determines an allowance for the uncollectible portion of accrued rents and accounts receivable based upon customer credit-worthiness (including expected recovery of a claim with respect to any tenants in bankruptcy), historical bad debt levels, and current economic trends. All amounts that were historically recorded as bad debt expense, and previously included in operating expenses in the Company's consolidated statement of operations, are now recorded as a reduction of rental revenues.
Segment Information
The Company's primary business is the ownership and operation of grocery-anchored shopping centers. The Company reviews operating and financial information for each property on an individual basis and, accordingly, each property represents an individual operating segment. The Company evaluates financial performance using property operating income, which consists of rental income and other property income, less operating expenses and real estate taxes. The Company has no operations outside of the United States of America. Therefore, the Company has aggregated its properties into one reportable segment as the properties share similar long-term economic characteristics and have other similarities including the fact that they are operated using consistent business strategies, are typically located in similar markets, and have similar tenant mixes.
Lease Commitments
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases, in which the Company is the lessee, are included in deferred costs and other assets, net, and accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Right-of-use ("ROU") assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and the lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU assets include any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Company's lease terms may include options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company combines lease and associated nonlease components. The lease components are the majority of its leasing arrangements and the Company accounts for the combined component as an operating lease. In the event the Company modifies existing ground leases or enters into new ground leases, such leases may be classified as finance leases.
Transaction Costs
All costs associated with the Grocery-Anchored Portfolio Sale and the Merger, were expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes
The Company, organized in 1984, has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") under the Code. A REIT will generally not be subject to federal income taxation on that portion of its income that qualifies as REIT taxable income, to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of such REIT taxable income to its stockholders and complies with certain other requirements. As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all REIT requirements.
The Company follows a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain federal, state and local tax positions. Recognition (step one) occurs when an enterprise concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination. Measurement (step two) determines the amount of benefit that more-likely-than-not will be realized upon settlement. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur when a company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more-likely-than-not threshold of being sustained. The Company has not identified any uncertain tax positions which would require an accrual.
Derivative Financial Instruments
Prior to the Merger, the Company occasionally utilized derivative financial instruments, principally interest rate swaps, to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The Company had established policies and procedures for risk assessment, and the approval, reporting and monitoring of derivative financial instruments. Derivative financial instruments had to be effective in reducing the Company's interest rate risk exposure in order to qualify for hedge accounting. When the terms of an underlying transaction were modified, or when the underlying hedged item ceased to exist, all changes in the fair value of the instrument were marked-to-market with changes in value included in net income for each period until the derivative financial instrument matured or was settled. Any derivative financial instrument used for risk management that did not meet the hedging criteria was marked-to-market with the changes in value included in net income.
Share-Based Compensation
During 2017, the Company's shareholders approved the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2017 Plan"), which replaced the Company's 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2012 Plan"). As of the effective date of the 2017 Plan, the Company may not grant any further awards under the 2012 Plan. The 2017 Plan establishes the procedures for the granting of, among other things, restricted stock awards. On May 1, 2019, the Company's shareholders approved an amendment to the 2017 Plan, which increased the maximum number of shares of the Company's common stock that may be issued pursuant to the 2017 Plan by 303,000 shares, to a new total of 909,000 shares (see Note 14, Share-Based Compensation), and the maximum number of shares that may be granted to a participant in any calendar year may not exceed 76,000. All grants issued pursuant to the 2017 Plan generally vest (1) at the end of designated time
periods for time-based grants, or (2) upon the completion of a designated period of performance for performance-based grants and satisfaction of performance criteria. Time–based grants are valued according to the market price for the Company's common stock at the date of grant. For performance-based grants, the Company generally engages an independent appraisal company to determine the value of the shares at the date of grant, taking into account the underlying contingency risks associated with the performance criteria. The value of all grants are being expensed on a straight-line basis over their respective vesting periods (irrespective of achievement of the market performance-based grants) adjusted, as applicable, for forfeitures. For restricted share grants subject to graded vesting, the amounts expensed are at least equal to the measured expense of each vested tranche. Based on the terms of the 2017 Plan, those grants of restricted shares that are contributed to the Rabbi Trusts are classified as treasury stock on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The 2017 Plan was terminated in connection with the Merger.
Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Information
Years ended December 31,
20232022
Supplemental disclosure of cash activities:   
Cash paid for interest$7,495,000 $14,344,000 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities: 
Capitalization of interest and financing costs— 1,035,000 
Buildings and improvements included in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities136,000 1,463,000 
Payoff of mortgages through mortgage assumptions— 157,925,000 
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance which requires disclosure of incremental segment information on both an annual and interim basis. The guidance will require that the Company continue to disclose existing segment information required by FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 280, as well as significant segment expenses and other segment items that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"). The Company will also be required to disclose the title and position of the CODM and how the CODM uses reported measures of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The guidance will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2024 and interim periods within the Company's fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2025. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the guidance, but does not believe it will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Other accounting standards that have been recently issued or proposed by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies are not currently applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.