Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Using Ground Leases in a Difficult Economy

By Steven Simkin and Barry Langman
May 25, 2010

A common ownership arrangement in large metropolitan areas such as Manhattan, though perhaps little-known to the public, involves the use of a ground lease. The apparent owner of the property ' the landlord of an office building, the business owner at a retail location or even the cooperative corporation at a co-op apartment house ' may not in fact hold the fee interest at all, but may instead hold the lessee interest under a ground lease.

Ground lease transactions are typically characterized by a long-term lease of land that is undeveloped at the time of lease execution, or of land that contains improvements that are intended to be demolished to permit redevelopment. The term is typically 75 or 99 years, which is long enough to approximate or exceed the useful life of the improvements the ground lessee intends to construct on the property. Further mimicking actual ownership by the lessee, ground leases are triple-net, with the ground lessee fully responsible for taxes, insurance and operating expenses, as well as having considerable discretion over alterations and management at the property. A “financeable” ground lease will also accommodate the ground lessee's obtaining a leasehold mortgage, balancing the lender's requirements for secure collateral with the owner's concern that its fee position not be subordinated to the lessee's financing.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys Image

Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.