District of Columbia v. Trustees of Amherst College

515 A.2d 1115, 35 Educ. L. Rep. 470, 1986 D.C. App. LEXIS 446
CourtDistrict of Columbia Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 3, 1986
DocketNo. 85-767
StatusPublished

This text of 515 A.2d 1115 (District of Columbia v. Trustees of Amherst College) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
District of Columbia v. Trustees of Amherst College, 515 A.2d 1115, 35 Educ. L. Rep. 470, 1986 D.C. App. LEXIS 446 (D.C. 1986).

Opinion

NEBEKER, Associate Judge:

This is an appeal from a decision of the Tax Division of Superior Court granting a cross-motion for summary judgment to ap-pellee Trustees of Amherst College. The sole question presented is whether certain buildings at issue and a vacant lot are entitled to tax exempt status for the tax years 1983 and 1984. The trial court concluded that the buildings were exempt as buildings “belonging to and operated by” a university within the meaning of D.C.Code § 47-1002(10) (1981).1 The court also concluded that the vacant lot was exempt as “[gjrounds belonging to and reasonably required and actually used” for the activities of an exempt organization within the meaning of D.C.Code § 47-1002(18)(A)(i).2

The lots at issue in this case are all properties associated with the Folger Shakespeare Library, which was established by the Trustees of Amherst College (Amherst) in 1932. The library was established and is administered by Amherst in accordance with the last will and testament of Henry Clay Folger. That will provided for the establishment of a permanent library in Washington, D.C. to house Fol-ger’s extensive Shakespearean collection. The library, which was to be known as the “Folger Shakespeare Memorial,” was to promote knowledge and appreciation of the history and writings of William Shakespeare. The will also provided funding for the maintenance, expansion and administration of the library.

The main library building, which houses the library collection, the Folger Theatre, and an exhibition hall, has been previously granted an exemption from real property taxation by the District of Columbia. The [1117]*1117contested properties in this case are located within one block of the main library building. For the sake of clarity, the undisputed facts as to each will be separately set forth.

Lot 29, Square 787

This lot, situated at 12 Third Street, S.E., contains a townhouse consisting of three floors and a basement. It was acquired by Amherst in 1965 and has been continuously used to provide short-term housing for individuals who visit the library from out of town. The first and third floors are used as housing for library lecturers and seminar participants through the auspices of the Folger Institute. A nominal fee for the accommodations is paid to the Library by the Folger Institute. The second floor is currently occupied by a former employee of the Library who moved in upon commencement of his employment with the Library, and who, upon termination of his employment, has refused to relinquish possession.

Lot 808, Square 787

This lot, situated at 16 Third Street, S.E., contains a townhouse comprised of five rooms. It was acquired by Amherst in 1967 and has been continuously used to provide housing for short-term visitors to the Library. The rooms are currently used to provide housing for visiting scholars who come to the Library to conduct research. A nominal fee is charged.

Lot 807, Square 787

Situated at 18 Third Street, S.E., this lot contains a single family house which was acquired by Amherst in 1967. It has been vacant since August 1984, but prior to that date the house was continuously used as the official residence of the Director of the Library. The Director was not charged rent during occupancy.

Lot 836, Square 787

This lot, situated at 10 Third Street, S.E., contains a townhouse comprised of six rooms. Acquired by Amherst in 1967, the rooms are used to provide short-term hous-. ing for visiting scholars who come to the Library to conduct research. The scholars typically stay from one day to two weeks, for which a nominal fee is charged.

Lot 814, Square 787

Located at 311 East Capitol Street, S.E., this lot contains a thirteen unit apartment building acquired by Amherst in 1971. This building has been continuously used to provide housing for members of the Folger Theatre Group and for guest actors appearing with the troupe. The rent charged is subsidized by the Library.

Lot 816, Square 787

Situated at 315 East Capital Street, S.E., this is a vacant side yard lot of Lot 815. Lot 815 contains a building used for storage by the Folger Theatre.

The government of the District of Columbia (government) contends with respect to each of the enumerated buildings that they should not be exempt from real property taxation for two reasons. First, the government contends that the buildings do not “belong to” Amherst within the meaning of D.C.Code § 47-1002(10). Second, the government contends that even if the buildings “belong to” Amherst, they are not then automatically exempt. Rather, the use to which the buildings are put must be examined to determine whether they are being used for an exempt purpose. The government, of course, then argues that the buildings have not been used for such purposes.

With regard to the vacant lot, the government contends that it too does not “belong to” Amherst. In addition, it contends that the lot has not been “reasonably required and actually used” by Amherst as required by D.C.Code § 47-1002(18)(A)(i). We will address each of these contentions in turn.

The government argues that neither the buildings nor the vacant lot “belong to” Amherst because the will of Henry Clay [1118]*1118Folger designated Amherst as trustee of a charitable trust, giving the trustees bare legal title and no enforceable equitable interest. The government then urges upon this court a rule recognized in some jurisdictions that with respect to taxation, where the title to certain property is held in trust, the right to a tax exemption is determined by the nature of the equitable interest.

Assuming that Folger’s will did indeed create a charitable trust with Amherst as trustee, we reject the conclusion that Amherst’s status as trustee defeats the claimed exemption.

Under the terms of the will, Amherst is charged with the responsibility of establishing and maintaining the Folger Shakespeare Memorial Library and all additions thereto. Amherst is given plenary authority to adopt any “reasonable regulations” as are deemed necessary for the operation of the Library and its environs. In addition, funds were set aside for the “maintenance, upkeep and enlargement” of the Library and for “necessary administration expenses.” Additional funds were made available to Amherst for additions to the Library building and its equipment, as well as the collection itself.

The investing in Amherst of such broad powers and duties of management and administration, in the absence of any interest, duties or powers residing in any other person or entity leads to no other conclusion but that the properties, as a matter of law, “belong to” Amherst within the meaning of § 47-1002(10). The fact that Amherst, as trustee, holds only bare legal title to the property does not permit a contrary legal conclusion. See Calvary Baptist Church Extension Association v. District of Columbia, 81 U.S.App.D.C.

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District of Columbia v. Catholic University of America
397 A.2d 915 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1979)

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Bluebook (online)
515 A.2d 1115, 35 Educ. L. Rep. 470, 1986 D.C. App. LEXIS 446, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/district-of-columbia-v-trustees-of-amherst-college-dc-1986.