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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company is subject to the usual obligations associated with entering into contracts for the purchase, development, and sale of real estate, which the Company does in the routine conduct of its business. The operations of the Company are conducted through the Operating Company and its subsidiaries, and in some cases, the Holding Company will guarantee the performance of the Operating Company or its subsidiaries.
Valencia Project Approval Settlement
In September 2017, the Company reached a settlement with key national and state environmental and Native American organizations that were petitioners (the “Settling Petitioners”) in various legal challenges to Valencia’s regulatory approvals and permits. The Holding Company has provided a guaranty to the Settling Petitioners for monetary payments due from the Company as required under the settlement. As of December 31, 2024, the remaining estimated maximum potential amount of monetary payments subject to the guaranty was $6.6 million with the final payment due in 2026.
Valencia Water Purchase Agreement
The Company is subject to a water purchase agreement requiring annual payments in exchange for the delivery of water for the Company’s exclusive use. The agreement has an initial 35-year term, which expires in 2039 with an option for a second 35-year term. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company made payments totaling $1.4 million under the agreement. The annual minimum payments for years 2025 to 2029 are $1.5 million, $1.5 million, $1.6 million, $1.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively. At December 31, 2024, the aggregate of all annual minimum payments remaining under the initial term total $28.3 million.
Valencia Infrastructure Project
In January 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Los Angeles County, in which the Company would finance up to a maximum of $45.8 million for the construction costs of an interchange project that Los Angeles County is managing. The interchange project was completed in 2019 and is a critical infrastructure project that benefits Valencia. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has made aggregate payments of $37.0 million. At both December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had $8.9 million included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, representing unreimbursed construction costs payable to Los Angeles County.
Performance and Completion Bonding Agreements
In the ordinary course of business and as a part of the entitlement and development process, the Company is required to provide performance bonds to ensure completion of certain of the Company’s development obligations. The Company had outstanding performance bonds of $375.8 million and $306.9 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Candlestick and The San Francisco Shipyard Disposition and Development Agreement
The San Francisco Venture is a party to a disposition and development agreement with the Successor to the Redevelopment Agency of the City and County of San Francisco (the “San Francisco Agency”) in which the San Francisco Agency has agreed to convey portions of Candlestick and The San Francisco Shipyard to the San Francisco Venture for development. The San Francisco Venture has agreed to reimburse the San Francisco Agency for reasonable costs and expenses actually incurred and paid by the San Francisco Agency in performing its obligations under the disposition and development agreement. The San Francisco Agency can also earn a return of certain profits generated from the development and sale of Candlestick and The San Francisco Shipyard if certain thresholds are met.
At both December 31, 2024 and 2023, the San Francisco Venture had outstanding guarantees benefiting the San Francisco Agency for infrastructure and construction of certain park and open space obligations with aggregate maximum obligations of $198.3 million.
Letters of Credit
At both December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $1.0 million. These letters of credit were issued to secure various development and financial obligations. At both December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had restricted cash and certificates of deposit of $1.0 million pledged as collateral under the letters of credit agreements.
Legal Proceedings
Hunters Point Litigation
In May 2018, residents of the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood in San Francisco filed a putative class action in San Francisco Superior Court naming Tetra Tech, Inc. and Tetra Tech EC, Inc., an independent contractor hired by the U.S. Navy to conduct testing and remediation of toxic radiological waste at The San Francisco Shipyard (“Tetra Tech”), Lennar and the Company as defendants (the “Bayview Action”). The plaintiffs allege that, among other things, Tetra Tech fraudulently misrepresented its test results and remediation efforts. The plaintiffs are seeking damages against Tetra Tech and the Company and have requested an injunction to prevent the Company and Lennar from undertaking any development activities at The San Francisco Shipyard. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the allegations in the Bayview Action and may have insurance and indemnification rights against third parties with respect to the claims.
Other
Other than the actions outlined above, the Company is also a party to various other claims, legal actions, and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business, the disposition of which, in the Company’s opinion, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
As a significant land owner and developer of unimproved land it is possible that environmental contamination conditions could exist that would require the Company to take corrective action. In the opinion of the Company, such corrective actions, if any, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.