Property Operating Expenses.
Property operating expenses are comprised mainly of building common area and maintenance expenses, insurance, property taxes, property management fees, as well as certain expenses that are not recoverable from tenants, the majority of which are related to costs necessary to maintain the appearance and marketability of vacant space. In the normal course of business, property expenses fluctuate and are impacted by various factors including, but not limited to, occupancy levels, weather, utility costs, repairs, maintenance and
re-leasing
costs. Property operating expenses increased $0.2 million, or 1%, to $17.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $17.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Of the increase, the December 2021 acquisition of Block 23 and The Terraces, which were undergoing first generation
lease-up
in 2022, contributed $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. In addition, property operating expenses at Park Tower increased $0.2 million, due to higher operating costs associated with higher occupancy over the prior year. Offsetting these increases, the disposition of 190 Office Center in May 2023 decreased property operating expenses by $0.9 million. The remaining properties’ property operating expenses were $0.6 million higher in comparison to the prior period, primarily due to inflation.
General and Administrative.
General and administrative expenses are comprised of public company reporting costs and the compensation of our management team and Board of Directors, as well as
non-cash
stock-based compensation expenses. General and administrative expenses were unchanged at $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $3.5 million reported in the prior period.
Depreciation and Amortization.
Depreciation and amortization decreased $0.9 million, or 5%, to $14.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $15.6 million reported for the same period in 2022. Of this decrease, the disposition of 190 Office Center in May 2023 decreased depreciation and amortization expense by $0.5 million. In addition, our SanTan property contributed $0.3 million to the decrease, primarily due to accelerated amortization of tenant-related assets recorded in the prior year associated with an early lease termination at the property. Depreciation and amortization expense at The Quad decreased by $0.2 million from the prior period as the amortization expense associated with leases in place was fully amortized in early 2023. Offsetting these decreases, depreciation and amortization expense at our Circle Point property increased by $0.1 million due to increased depreciation for tenant-related assets. The remaining properties’ depreciation expenses were relatively unchanged in comparison to the prior year.
Interest expense increased $1.3 million, or 19%, to $8.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $6.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to higher amounts drawn and higher interest rates on our floating rate debt.
Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
Rental and Other Revenues.
Rental and other revenues include net rental income, including parking, signage and other income, as well as the recovery of operating costs and property taxes from tenants. Rental and other revenues decreased $1.1 million, or 1%, to $134.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $135.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Revenue decreased at SanTan by $3.8 million due to a termination fee recognized in the prior year and lower resulting occupancy in the current period associated with an early tenant departure. In addition, the dispositions of 190 Office Center in May 2023 and Lake Vista Pointe in June 2022 reduced revenue by $2.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively. Revenue also decreased at Mission City and 5090 by $0.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively, due to lower occupancy at the properties compared to the prior year. Offsetting these decreases, the December 2021 acquisition of Bloc 83, Block 23 and The Terraces, which were undergoing first generation
lease-up
in 2022, increased revenue by $2.6 million, $1.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively. In addition, higher occupancy at Park Tower, Circle Point, FRP Collection and City Center increased revenue by $1.9 million, $1.3 million, $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The remaining properties’ rental and other revenues were marginally lower in comparison to the prior period.
Total Operating Expenses.
Total operating expenses consist of property operating expenses, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization. Total operating expenses increased $1.0 million, or 1%, to $109.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, from $108.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Of the increase, the December 2021 acquisition of Bloc 83, Block 23 and The Terraces, which were undergoing first generation
lease-up
in 2022, contributed $1.2 million, $1.0 million and $0.4 million, respectively. In addition, total operating expenses at Park Tower, FRP Collection, City Center and Circle Point increased $1.1 million, $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, due to higher operating costs associated with higher occupancy over the prior year. General and administrative expenses also increased $0.4 million, primarily due to higher payroll and stock-based compensation expense. Offsetting these increases, total operating expenses decreased at SanTan by $1.5 million due to lower occupancy at the property in comparison to the prior year. The dispositions of 190 Office Center in May 2023 and Lake Vista Pointe in June 2022 also decreased total operating expenses by $1.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively. In addition, total operating expenses at Mission City decreased by $0.4 million from the prior period mainly due to amortization expense associated with acquired lease intangible assets that has now been fully amortized. The remaining properties’ total operating expenses were relatively unchanged in comparison to the prior period.