Crestar Bank v. Triton/Richmond Associates Ltd. Partnership (In Re Triton/Richmond Associates Ltd. Partnership)

103 B.R. 764, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 1392, 1989 WL 98287
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedAugust 2, 1989
Docket15-73133
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 103 B.R. 764 (Crestar Bank v. Triton/Richmond Associates Ltd. Partnership (In Re Triton/Richmond Associates Ltd. Partnership)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crestar Bank v. Triton/Richmond Associates Ltd. Partnership (In Re Triton/Richmond Associates Ltd. Partnership), 103 B.R. 764, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 1392, 1989 WL 98287 (Va. 1989).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

BLACKWELL N. SHELLEY, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter comes before the Court upon the motion of Crestar Bank (“Crestar”) seeking relief from the automatic stay imposed by 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) to foreclose on real property and equipment of the debtor. Finding Crestar’s interest to be adequately protected, and finding that the property in question is necessary for the effective reorganization of the debtor, the Court has denied Crestar’s motion.

FINDINGS OF FACT

On December 1, 1985, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (“RRHA”) issued Multi-Family Housing Revenue Series A Bonds (the “Bonds”) in an aggregate principal amount of $7,000,-000 for the purpose of making a loan to the debtor. The debtor used the loan proceeds to finance the acquisition and rehabilitation of two multi-family residential rental properties (“the Property”) located in the City of Richmond. The two properties involved are townhouse-apartment complexes known commonly as “Warwick Place” and “Berkeley Place.”

Upon issuance of the Bonds on December 20, 1985, the debtor delivered to RRHA a nonrecourse promissory note (the “Note”), dated December 1, 1985, under which the debtor promised to pay $7,000,000 plus interest at 10.5% per annum over a twenty-year term. The Note is interest-only, with principal and unpaid accrued interest becoming due on December 1, 2005.

The Note is secured by a deed of trust (“the Deed of Trust”) properly recorded in the Clerk’s Office of the City of Richmond. Under the terms of the Deed of Trust, the debtor granted Crestar a security interest in the Property, as well as in certain personal property and fixtures.

In addition, the debtor executed an assignment of rents and leases (“the Assignment”) under which the debtor assigned to Crestar all the rents and income generated by the Warwick Place and Berkeley Place apartments. This Assignment was properly recorded in the land records of the City of Richmond on December 20, 1985.

The Property appears to be subject to additional liens and encumbrances, including a second deed of trust in the amount of $1,250,000.

On January 24, 1989, several months pri- or to the filing of the debtor’s petition, Crestar exercised its rights under the Assignment, and began collecting rents gen *766 erated by both apartment complexes. At that time, Crestar took possession of the Property and placed its own management company, Amurcón Realty Corporation (“Amurcón”) in charge of operating the complexes. Amurcón continues to operate the Property today.

Since the filing of the petition on May 18, 1989, the debtor has been in the unusual position of being a debtor-out-of-possession. As stated above, in January of 1989 Cres-tar took possession of the Property and began collecting rents. Concurrently with the motion for relief from stay, the Court heard Crestar’s motion under 11 U.S.C. § 543(d) requesting authority to retain possession of the Property as a custodian. The Court denied this motion without prejudice and without deciding the issue of whether Crestar is a “custodian” within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. §§ 101(10) and 543.

In addition, the Court entertained the debtor’s motion requesting authority to use cash collateral in which Crestar has an interest, namely the rents and profits from the apartment complexes. The Court granted the debtor’s request, but conditioned the use of Crestar’s cash collateral upon the provision of adequate protection. As adequate protection the Court ordered that Crestar be permitted to remain in possession of the Property and to continue to operate the complexes pursuant to its management contract with Amurcón.

Crestar’s motion for relief from stay was filed on May 18, 1989, the same day on which the debtor’s Chapter 11 case commenced. The Court held a preliminary hearing on the motion on June 13, 1989, and at that time scheduled a final hearing for June 26, 1989. At the conclusion of the final hearing the Court took the matter under advisement. For its motion, Crestar contends that relief from stay should be granted because 1) Crestar’s interest is not adequately protected, and/or 2) the debtor lacks equity in the Property and the Property is not necessary for an effective reorganization. As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that the debtor concedes that it does not possess any equity in the Property.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

11 U.S.C. § 362(d) provides that:

On request of a party in interest and after notice and a hearing, the court shall grant relief from the [automatic stay] ... (1) for cause, including the lack of adequate protection ... or (2) ... if the debtor does not have an equity in [the subject] property; and such property is not necessary to an effective reorganization.

11 U.S.C. § 362(d). As stated above, the debtor in this case concedes that it presently possesses no equity in the Property. Thus, only two issues remain for the Court’s consideration. First, does “cause,” which includes a lack of adequate protection of Crestar’s interest, for lifting the stay exist? And second, is the Property necessary for an effective reorganization? Each of these issues will be addressed below.

A. Adequate Protection

At the time of the filing of the debtor’s petition, as well as at the time of the hearings on Crestar’s motion for relief from stay, Crestar was in possession of the Property and was operating the apartments through Amurcón, its chosen management company. Furthermore, pursuant to the Court’s order conditioning the debtor’s use of cash collateral, Crestar will be permitted to maintain possession and management control of the Property as a measure of adequate protection.

Of course, “adequate protection” for purposes of a cash collateral order is distinct from adequate protection in the context of a motion for relief from stay. The Court in this case, however, is convinced that Cres-tar’s interest in the Property is adequately protected within the meaning of § 362(d)(1) by Crestar’s continued possession and control of the Property. As the operator of the apartments, Crestar has the ability to ensure that the Property is adequately maintained, taxes paid, apartments rented, and rents collected.

This Court has previously found that adequate protection of a secured creditor's *767 interest in residential property under construction existed where the debtor assured that insurance would be maintained, taxes paid, and the physical integrity of the property safeguarded. In re Kanawha Trace Development Partners, 87 B.R. 892 (Bankr.E.D.Va.1988). Here Crestar needs no such assurances. As the party in possession of the Property it can protect itself.

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Bluebook (online)
103 B.R. 764, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 1392, 1989 WL 98287, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crestar-bank-v-tritonrichmond-associates-ltd-partnership-in-re-vaeb-1989.