Long-term Lease Obligations
Flagship Center consists of two developed outparcels that are part of a larger adjacent community shopping center formerly owned by the Saul Organization and sold to an affiliate of a tenant in 1991. The Company has a 90-year ground leasehold interest, which commenced in September 1991, with a minimum rent of one dollar per year. Countryside Marketplace was acquired in February 2004. Because of certain land use considerations, approximately 3.4% of the underlying land is held under a 99-year ground lease. The lease requires the Company to pay minimum rent of one dollar per year as well as its pro-rata share of the real estate taxes.
The Company’s corporate headquarters space is leased by a member of the Saul Organization. The lease commenced in March 2002 and expires in February 2027. The Company and the Saul Organization entered into a Shared Services Agreement whereby each party pays an allocation of total rental payments based on a percentage proportionate to the number of employees employed by each party. The Company’s rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 was $876,600, $847,600, and $871,300, respectively. Expenses arising from the lease are included in general and administrative expense (see Note 9 – Related Party Transactions).
On February 28, 2022, the lease was extended for an additional period of 60 months. In conjunction with the lease extension, a right of use asset and corresponding lease liability was recognized of $3.8 million and $3.8 million, respectively. The right of use asset and corresponding lease liability totaled $0.9 million and $1.0 million, respectively, at December 31, 2025.
About Leases Disclosures
Lease disclosures under ASC 842 provide a comprehensive view of a company's leased asset portfolio, including the split between operating and finance leases, discount rates used to present-value future payments, and the maturity schedule of lease obligations. This section reveals a significant source of off-balance-sheet commitments that were largely hidden before the current standard.
Key signals: the weighted-average discount rate affects the size of recorded lease liabilities — a higher rate reduces the reported obligation, so compare the chosen rate against the company's incremental borrowing rate. The operating versus finance lease mix affects both EBITDA and operating income presentation. Watch the maturity table for concentration risk: large payment cliffs in specific years may create cash flow pressure. Variable lease payments excluded from the liability measurement represent real obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet. Compare total lease costs against prior-year operating lease expense to assess the true economic burden.