Matter of Landmark at Plaza Park, Ltd.

7 B.R. 653, 1980 Bankr. LEXIS 3988, 6 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 1312
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. New Jersey
DecidedDecember 5, 1980
Docket19-12110
StatusPublished
Cited by57 cases

This text of 7 B.R. 653 (Matter of Landmark at Plaza Park, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. New Jersey primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Matter of Landmark at Plaza Park, Ltd., 7 B.R. 653, 1980 Bankr. LEXIS 3988, 6 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 1312 (N.J. 1980).

Opinion

OPINION RE: CONFIRMATION OF PLAN

RICHARD W. HILL, Bankruptcy Judge.

This opinion constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to a Chapter 11 confirmation hearing held on debtor’s plan of reorganization, as modified. 1 The opinion explains the November 3, 1980, letter decision of the Court.

Debtor, Landmark at Plaza Park, Ltd., is a limited partnership whose only substantial asset is a 200-unit garden apartment complex located in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. City Federal (hereafter City) holds a first mortgage on this property in the face amount of $2,250,000. The mortgage bears an interest rate of 9.5% and is due and payable on October 1, 1986. On October 2, 1980, this Court issued a written decision denying City’s request for relief from the automatic stay provisions of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 362, and continuing the stay until the conclusion of the hearing on confirmation of the debt- or’s plan. This opinion deals with debtor’s plan as it affects City, the only objecting class of creditors. As to all other classes of creditors, there is no dispute and the Court is satisfied that the confirmation standards specified in 11 U.S.C. Section 1129 have been met.

Before discussing the merits of debtor’s plan three things should be noted. First, the parties have stipulated that the record from the Section 362 hearing is part of the record herein. 2 Second, the parties have stipulated that for the purpose of the confirmation hearing $2,260,000 is the fair market value of the property. This value was fixed by the Court after lengthy testimony was presented at the Section 362 hearing. And third, City has made an election pursuant to Section 1111(b)(2) of the Code. Thus, *655 its claim in the amount of $2,512,457 will be treated as fully secured. 3

I.THE PLAN AS MODIFIED

Crucial to an understanding of the Court’s decision is a discussion of the plan and how it affects City. Contractually, City is a first mortgagee without recourse. It has possession of the property and is collecting the rents pursuant to a rent assignment agreement. The mortgage has been in default since at least December, 1979. City is undersecured and wants to complete its foreclosure action.

The debtor has proposed in substance the following plan:

1. City is to redeliver possession of the property to the debtor.
2. On the 16th month after the effective date of the plan and through the 36th month debtor will commence monthly interest payments at the rate of 12.5% computed on the value of the property-$2,260,000.
3. Debtor will deliver to City a non-recourse note, payable in three years in the face amount of $2,705,820.31, in substitution of all existing liabilities.
4. The existing mortgage will secure the note set forth in paragraph 3, except to the extent that it is inconsistent with or modified by the plan.
5. City is the only member of the class of creditors to which it has been assigned.

The face amount of the note is derived as follows:

Current value of collateral $2,260,000.00 a.
Unpaid interest: months 1-15 @ 12.5% 353,125.00 b.
Interest on unpaid interest: 21 months @ 15% 92,695.31 c.
Face amount of note $2,705,820.31

The debtor’s principal theory is that the note will be paid off at the end of 36 months by a combination of refinancing and accumulation of cash from the project, all of which will subsequently be discussed at length. The key to the debtor’s plan is a proposal to obtain a new first mortgage in three years in the face amount of $2,400,-000.

It is undisputed that pursuant to this plan City is impaired within the meaning of Section 1124 of the Code. City has rejected the plan.

II. THE ISSUES

Confirmation standards under the Code are set forth in Section 1129. Clearly, the debtor has complied with all provisions of that section except for the following subsections: (a)(7)(B); (a)(8); (a)(ll); (b)(1); and (b)(2)(A). Actually the list is much shorter. The requirements of (a)(7)(B) are, in effect, carried forward in (b)(1) and (b)(2). Thus if the requirement of subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2) are met (a)(7)(B) will also have been met. Similarly, the requirements of (a)(8) are waived by the specific language of (b)(1) if other requirements of (b)(1) and (b)(2) are met. That leaves at issue the debtor’s compliance with subsec *656 tions (a)(ll), (b)(1) and (b)(2). Subsection (a)(ll) of Section 1129 is the feasibility requirement and, in a general sense, deals with whether the debtor can and will accomplish what it has proposed. Subsection (b) of Section 1129 is the “cram-down” provision of the Code. It describes those circumstances in which a class of creditors or interests may over its objection be involuntarily subjected to the provisions of a plan. Each of these sections will be discussed at length. The provisions of subsection (b) will be discussed first because certain determinations made there bear on the feasibility determination required by subsection (a)(ll).

Ill THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 1129(b)(1) AND (2)

The provisions of Section 1129(b) specify the circumstances under which a class of creditors or interests may be involuntarily subjected to a plan of reorganization. This “cram-down” provision of the Code provides in part that:

(b)(1) Notwithstanding section 510(a) of this title, if all of the applicable requirements of subsection (a) of this section other than paragraph (8) are met with respect to a plan, the court, on request of the proponent of the plan, shall confirm the plan notwithstanding the requirements of such paragraph if the plan does not discriminate unfairly, and is fair and equitable, with respect to each class of claims or interests that is impaired under, and has not accepted, the plan.
(2) For the purpose of this subsection, the condition that a plan be fair and equitable with respect to class includes the following requirements:
(A) With respect to a class of secured claims, the plan provides-
(¡XI) ^at the holders of such claims retain the lien securing such claims, whether the property subject to such lien is retained by the debtor or transferred to another entity, to the extent of the allowed amount of such claims; and
(II) that each holder of a claim of such class receive on account of such claim deferred cash payments totaling at least the allowed amount of such claim, of a value, as of the effective date of the plan, of at least the value of such holder’s interest in the estate’s interest in such property. 4 11 U.S.C.

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Bluebook (online)
7 B.R. 653, 1980 Bankr. LEXIS 3988, 6 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 1312, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/matter-of-landmark-at-plaza-park-ltd-njb-1980.