COMMERCIAL REVOLVING AND
CONSTRUCTION LOAN AGREEMENT
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Wachovia Bank, National Association
300 Main Street
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
(Hereinafter referred to as the “ Bank ”)
East Lyme Housing Ventures, LLC
c/o Wellsford Real Properties, Inc.
535 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(Hereinafter referred to as the “ Borrower
”)
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This Commercial
Revolving and Construction Loan Agreement (“ Agreement
”) is entered into as of December 23, 2004, by and between
Bank and Borrower.
This Agreement applies to the loan or loans (individually and
collectively, the “ Loan ”) evidenced by one or
more promissory notes of even date herewith or other notes or
letters of credit subject hereto, as modified from time to time
(whether one or more, the “ Note ”) and all Loan
Documents. The terms “ Loan Documents ” and
“ Obligations ,” as used in this Agreement, are
defined in the Note. The term “ Security Instrument
” means the mortgage encumbering the Property and securing
the Loan.
Relying upon the covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties contained in this Agreement, Bank is willing to extend
credit to Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein, and Bank and Borrower agree as follows:
LOAN. Bank will make a loan in the
principal amount of up to $21,176,995.00, consisting of two (2)
components. The first component is a development loan (the “
Development Loan ”) in the amount of $12,824,074.00.
The second component is a revolving construction loan (the “
Revolving Loan ”) in the amount of $8,352,921.00. The
Development Loan proceeds will be used to reimburse Borrower
certain budgeted site development costs relating to the Project
(defined below). The Revolving Loan proceeds will be used to fund
construction of the Units (defined below). The maximum amount
outstanding under the Revolving Loan at any time shall be
$8,352,921.00, but such amounts may be advanced, repaid and
readvanced up to the maximum amount of $8,352,921.00, so long as
the total principal balance outstanding at any one time does not
exceed said amount. In addition, the aggregate amount that may be
advanced under the Revolving Loan during its term shall not exceed
$28,652,847.00 (which aggregate, for purposes of clarification,
does not include amounts advanced under the Development Loan). The
Loan proceeds are to be used by Borrower solely in connection with
the development of 100 residential units (each, a “
Unit ”, collectively, the “ Units
”) to be constructed upon the 100 lots owned by Borrower
located on Scott Road and Boston Post Road in East Lyme,
Connecticut (the “ Project ”), more particularly
described in the Security Instrument (the “Property
”) in accordance with the plans and specifications approved
by Bank (as same may be modified from time to time with the written
approval of Bank, the “ Plans and Specifications
”).
LOAN ADVANCE TERMS. Advances. Subject to compliance by
Borrower with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Bank
shall make advances of the Loan to Borrower for hard construction
costs incurred by Borrower in connection with the construction of
the Project (“ Hard Costs ”) and for all other
costs, other than Hard Costs, incurred by Borrower in connection
with the Loan or the construction of the Project (“ Soft
Costs ”), in accordance with the budget provided to Bank
a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule A (as same
may be revised from time to time with the reasonable prior written
approval of Bank or to reflect change orders as permitted pursuant
to the terms hereof, the “ Construction Budget
”); provided , however , that Bank’s
approval shall not be required if revisions (a) to a particular
line item do not result in an increase of the amount allocated to
such line item by more than $100,000 (except that savings in one
line item that are allocated to a different line item shall not be
considered for purposes of
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determining the
amount of any such increase) and (b) do not, in the aggregate,
result in an increase of the total amount of the Construction
Budget by more than $500,000; provided , however ,
that Borrower shall pay for any increase in the Construction Budget
resulting from the foregoing and in no event shall Bank be
obligated to make disbursements of the Loan in excess of Verified
Project Costs (as hereafter defined). All advances made hereunder
shall be: (i) recorded in an account on Bank’s books, in
which shall also be recorded accrued interest on such advances,
payments on such advances, and other appropriate debits and credits
in connection with this Agreement, and such account, absent
manifest error, shall constitute prima facie evidence of the
information contained therein; (ii) secured by the Security
Instrument; (iii) deemed to be a loan to Borrower which is
repayable together with interest from the date each said advance is
made by Bank until the date of repayment at the interest rate set
forth in the Note; and (iv) subject to all the terms and conditions
contained herein. Verified Project Costs. As used in this
Agreement, “ Verified Project Costs ” means the
aggregate, from time to time, of (i) Soft Costs actually incurred
by Borrower and approved for funding by Bank (which costs, for
purposes of clarification, do not have to be paid first by
Borrower, but may be paid with the proceeds from advances), and
(ii) Hard Costs actually incurred by Borrower for work in place as
part of the Project, as certified by Bank’s Inspector (as
hereinafter defined) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement
(which costs, for purposes of clarification, do not have to be paid
first by Borrower, but may be paid with the proceeds from
advances), minus a sum equal to the aggregate of (i) the
portion of the Equity Requirement which Borrower is required to
have invested in the Project pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii)
the Retainage, if any. Limitation on Loan Advances. In no
event will the maximum principal amount of the Loan exceed the
lesser of (a) 75% of the projected “as-built” fair
market value of the Project, as determined by Bank’s
appraisal, or (b) 76.5% of the total Project development costs
approved by Bank. The maximum amount outstanding at any one time
under the Revolving Loan will be limited to $8,352,921.00, itemized
as follows:
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1.
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$4,579,000.00
for base Hard Costs and upgrades (15 homes) (revolving)
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2.
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$1,133,455.00
for interest carry on the Development Loan and the Revolving Loan
(non-revolving and revolving)
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3.
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$1,060,782.00
for G&A/Developer's Fee, as set forth in the Budget
(non-revolving)
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4.
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$1,579,684.00
for Contingency (non-revolving)
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Equity
Requirement. Prior to the
initial loan advance, Borrower shall invest $6,318,302.00 ("
Equity Requirement ") from Borrower's own funds for
acquisition and development of the Project. Borrower shall invest
an additional $7,785,607.00 from Borrower's own funds for Hard
Costs associated with Units 81-100 at the Project, for a total
investment of $14,103,909.00. The Equity Requirement shall remain
invested in the Project during the term of the Loan and Borrower
agrees that, except for funds paid to Borrower from the sale of
Units, no portion of the Equity Requirement will be reimbursed
directly or indirectly without Bank's prior written consent.
Retainage. Bank shall retain from each advance of Loan
proceeds an amount equal to the greater of (i) 5% of Hard Costs
actually incurred by Borrower for work in place as part of the
Project, as certified from time to time by Bank's Inspector, or
(ii) the amount actually held back by Borrower from the general
contractor and each subcontractor and supplier engaged in the
construction of the Project (the " Retainage "). The
Retainage shall be released on a per contract basis at such time as
the applicable subcontractor's or supplier's work is completed as
per their respective contract. Deficiency in Loan Amount. If
at any time it appears that the actual cost to complete
construction of the Project, in the sole opinion of Bank or Bank's
Inspector, exceeds the undisbursed balance of the Loan plus the
unfunded Equity Requirement (the amount by which such cost exceeds
the undisbursed Loan balance plus the unfunded Equity Requirement
is hereinafter referred to as the " Deficiency "), as a
condition to any further advances, Bank may require Borrower to
deposit with Bank (and Borrower shall deposit within 7 days after
written notice from Bank) funds in the amount of the Deficiency ("
Deficiency Deposit "). At Bank's option, no Loan advances
shall be made until Borrower has fully complied with this
requirement. All such deposited funds shall be additional security
for the Obligations. Bank may, at its option, use the Deficiency
Deposit to pay costs to complete construction of the Project before
any further Loan advances. Contingency Reserve. Advances
from that portion of the Loan proceeds allocated to Contingency
(the " Contingency Reserve ") on the Construction Budget may
be disbursed in Bank's sole and absolute discretion for payment of
Hard Costs or Soft Costs as documented by invoices or paid receipts
and otherwise as provided herein. Interest Reserve.
Borrower
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acknowledges
that the Loan amount includes a reserve for interest due on the
Loan (the " Interest Reserve ") in the amount set forth on
the Construction Budget. Subject to the limitations below, Bank
shall disburse and charge the Interest Reserve for interest due
under the Note as advances are requested from Borrower. Bank shall
also have the right, but not the obligation, to fund such interest
from the Interest Reserve even if no draw request has been
submitted to or approved by Bank, and in such case, Bank shall
endeavor to give notice to Borrower, but failure to give such
notice shall not impair Bank's right to fund such interest. It is
understood and agreed that Bank shall not be obligated to disburse
any portion of the Interest Reserve at any time when all conditions
to disbursement are not satisfied. In the event Bank is not
obligated to disburse out of the Interest Reserve as aforesaid,
Borrower shall be responsible for the current payment of interest
on the Loan from Borrower's own funds. Developer's Fees.
Intentionally Omitted. Unit Construction Limits.
Intentionally Omitted. Qualifying Agreements. No advances of
the Revolving Loan shall be made for the construction of any Unit
until Borrower has delivered to Wachovia a Qualifying Agreement for
such Unit, other than with respect to up to 10 speculative Units at
any given time. As used herein, " Qualifying Agreements "
means an agreement of sale to purchase a Unit, which agreement of
sale shall: (i) have been signed by an unrelated third-party
purchaser, (ii) be on a standard form previously approved in
writing by Wachovia, (iii) provide for a minimum purchase price for
such Unit of at least $190 per square foot, any downward deviation
from which must be approved in advance by Bank, (iv) require the
purchaser to deposit not less than 10% of the purchase price
thereunder, which deposit shall be placed in escrow with Wachovia,
and (v) not be subject to any contingencies on the part of the
buyer other than a mortgage contingency (as to which Borrower shall
have established that the purchaser thereunder will qualify for
such financing) and an appraisal contingency. A contract will still
be considered to be a Qualifying Agreement even if, at the time the
contract is executed, it is cancelable by the purchaser because the
Unit to be conveyed is not "substantially complete" within the
meaning of the Common Interest Ownership Act, Section 47-200 et.
seq. of the Connecticut General Statutes, Revision of 1958, as
amended. Funding for Stored Materials. Bank shall not be
required to make disbursements of the Loan for costs incurred by
Borrower with respect to materials stored on or off the Property
unless (i) Borrower has bought and paid for such materials and (ii)
Bank shall, in its sole discretion, deem it advisable to do so. If
Bank elects to make a disbursement for stored materials, all stored
materials must be incorporated into the Project within 45 days of
Borrower's Request for Advance (as hereinafter defined) regarding
such materials. Bank may impose such additional conditions and
requirements as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
Bank's Inspector. Bank shall have the right to retain, at
Borrower's expense an inspector (" Bank's Inspector ") to
review and advise Bank with respect to all Plans and
Specifications, construction, architectural and other design
professional contracts, change orders, governmental permits and
approvals, and other matters related to the design, construction,
operation and use of the Project, to monitor the progress of
construction and to review on behalf of Bank all requests for Loan
advances submitted by Borrower. The fees and expenses of Bank's
Inspector, whether internal or external, including all such fees
and expenses incurred and unpaid to the date hereof, shall be due
and payable by Borrower as a Soft Cost as provided for herein or
otherwise on demand. Borrower acknowledges that (i) Bank's
Inspector has been retained by Bank to act as a consultant, and
only as a consultant, to Bank in connection with the construction
of the Project, and Bank's Inspector may be an employee of the
Bank, (ii) Bank's Inspector shall in no event have any power or
authority to make any decision or to give any approval or consent
or to do any other thing which is binding upon Bank, and any such
purported decision, approval, consent or act by Bank's Inspector on
behalf of Bank shall be void and of no force or effect; provided,
however that if Bank's Inspector is also the loan officer for the
Project, Bank may agree to such power or authority acting solely in
the employee's capacity as loan officer for the Bank, (iii) Bank
reserves the right to make any and all decisions required to be
made by Bank under this Agreement, in its sole and absolute
discretion, and without in any instance being bound or limited in
any manner whatsoever by any opinion expressed or not expressed by
Bank's Inspector to Bank or any other person with respect thereto,
and (iv) Bank reserves the right in its sole and absolute
discretion to replace Bank's Inspector with another inspector at
any time and without prior approval by Borrower. Bank shall
endeavor to give Borrower prior notice of such replacement, but
failure to do so shall not impair Bank's right to make such
replacement. All inspections by or on behalf of Bank shall be
solely for the benefit of Bank, and Borrower shall have no right to
claim any loss or damage against Bank or Bank's Inspector (whether
or not an employee of the Bank) arising from any alleged (i)
negligence or failure to perform such inspections, (ii) failure to
monitor loan disbursements or the progress or quality of
construction, or (iii) failure to otherwise properly administer the
construction aspects
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of the Loan.
Bank shall endeavor to provide Borrower copies of any written
reports prepared by Bank's inspector. Initial Closing
Conditions. Bank will have no obligation to Close (as
hereinafter defined) the Loan unless it has received the following
from Borrower or any guarantors, as applicable (if not expressly
waived by Bank), all in form and substance satisfactory to Bank;
(a) each of the Loan Documents duly executed by Borrower or any
guarantors, as the case may be; (b) evidence of compliance with any
applicable title, survey, environmental, soils tests or insurance
requirements as set forth in the Loan Documents or otherwise
requested by Bank, which shall be, unless expressly waived by Bank,
in accordance with Bank's minimum standards in effect at closing
(copies of such standards shall be provided to Borrower upon
request); and (c) each of the other documents, certificates,
affidavits, releases, agreements, counsel opinions, or other
closing items required by Bank as a condition to making the Loan.
"Close" shall mean Bank's agreement to the terms and conditions of
the Loan by execution of the Loan Documents and the initial funding
of the Loan (which may occur later than the effective date of the
Loan Documents).
PROCEDURES AND CONDITIONS FOR ADVANCES. Frequency of
Advances. Unless otherwise agreed, Bank shall not be obligated
to make advances of the Loan more frequently than once every 30
days. Request for Advance. For each request for an advance
of the Loan, Borrower shall submit to Bank, at least 5 business
days prior to the requested date of disbursement, a completed
written disbursement request (each, a " Request for Advance
") in such form and detail as reasonably required by Bank. Each
Request for Advance shall certify and contain in detail acceptable
to Bank: (i) the cost of the labor that has been performed, (ii)
the materials that have been incorporated into the Project, and
(iii) as required by Bank, invoices for Soft Costs in excess of
$5,000.00 incurred since the date of the previous advance. The
labor, materials and Soft Costs for which the advance is requested
need not have been paid first by Borrower, but may be paid with the
proceeds of such advance. Accompanying Materials. The
Request for Advance shall be accompanied by such supporting data as
Bank may require, including, without limitation, invoices, waivers
of mechanic's and materialmen's liens, and AIA Forms G702 and G703
certified by the general contractor and architect and/or engineer
for the Project, as applicable. Conditions To Advance. Bank
will have no obligation to make any advance if a Default (as
defined in the Loan Documents) or event which, with the giving of
notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a Default
under any of the Loan Documents has occurred and is continuing, and
unless it has received from the Borrower (if not expressly waived
by Bank), in form and substance satisfactory to Bank: (i) evidence
of any updated title search and/or endorsement to the title policy
required by Bank, as applicable, which shall be, unless expressly
waived by Bank, in compliance with Bank's minimum standards in
effect at the t
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