Henry D. Finkelstein

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Greenberg Glusker Partners Serve as Special Counsel to the City in One Beverly Hills Project

July 19, 2021Press Release

Los Angeles, CA (July 19, 2021) -- One Beverly Hills, a $4 billion master planned development at the Western gateway of Beverly Hills, is expected to proceed after the City Council approved an historic development agreement with a joint venture led by Alagem Capital Group (“Alagem”), which was negotiated by Greenberg Glusker attorneys Bob Baradaran and Henry Finkelstein who served as special counsel to the City.

Under the terms of the development agreement, Alagem (who owns the adjacent Beverly Hilton Hotel and Waldorf Astoria) along with joint venture partner Cain International, has agreed to provide the City with an unprecedented package of public benefits by agreement over and above the significant general fund revenues driven by the project.

The development agreement was entered into in concurrently with the One Beverly Hills Specific Plan which provides for the integrated redevelopment of the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the adjacent Robinsons-May Department store site under a visionary design. Apart from the financial aspects, the project includes spectacular public open spaces and many other desirable elements which were incorporated as part of the City’s planning process.

The combination of additional financial benefits provided by the development agreement are projected to be in excess of $1 billion over a 30-year period and are in addition to the over $500 million of direct tax revenues to the City. The bundle of additional financial benefits includes a $100 million development fee payable in connection with the initial development as well as an annuity of recurring future payments which include fees and surcharges which are analogous to increased transfer taxes on property sales and a higher bed tax rate.

Baradaran described the package of public benefits as “the most lucrative and richest direct public benefit package in favor of any city in the state of California and probably the country.”

Finkelstein added, “There is tremendous value inherent in the Beverly Hills brand and its exceptional public services, yet Beverly Hills imposes lower generally applicable taxes than other world class cities.  The economic terms of the Development Agreement serve to level the playing field with our competition in supporting the City’s future needs.”

Both attorneys noted, “Often, municipalities are providing rebates or subsidies to the most beneficial developments, and it was a considerable challenge to overcome those precedents and to command the revenue premiums which the City deserved.”

About Greenberg Glusker

With more than 100 attorneys, Greenberg Glusker remains the largest single-office, full-service law firm in California. However, our reach from L.A.’s Westside spans the entire United States and the globe. Our structure and business strategy allow us to meet our clients’ needs in a personal, competitive, and cost-efficient manner, with first-tier legal services and in-depth industry knowledge.

For over 60 years, Greenberg Glusker has maintained a premier real estate law practice with the resources and breadth of experience needed to handle local, statewide and national transactions, including: acquisitions & sales, financing, land use, leasing, design, construction and development, restructuring & loan workout, real estate litigation, and joint ventures.

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