The subject clause, entitled "Tenant's Tax Payment," does not evince an unequivocal intent that tenant's additional rent obligation for real estate taxes is to include real estate taxes that are refunded to or otherwise not actually paid by landlord due to an RPTL § 421-a abatement. Such an intent is necessary since, as Appellate Term explained, landlord would "reap a windfall" were it permitted to recover additional rent for taxes it does not actually pay ( S.B.S. Assoc. v. Weissman-Heller, Inc., 190 A.D.2d 529, citing Fairfax Co. v. Whelan Drug Co., 105 A.D.2d 647; see also Rudd v. 176 W. 87th St., 283 A.D.2d 202; 1100 Ave. of Ams. Assoc. v. Bryant Imports, 234 A.D.2d 101). We reject landlord's argument that such an intent is evinced by the clause's definition of taxes as, inter alia, all real estate taxes or other governmental levies assessed, levied or imposed on the building or land "without reduction for any abatement." Read as a whole, the clause requires tenant to pay the additional rent, or a reasonable estimate thereof, without reduction for any abatements, at least 30 days in advance of landlord's obligation to pay real estate taxes, and requires landlord thereafter to make adjustments in favor of tenant for any inaccuracies in its estimate or refunds it receives. The result is that ultimately tenant is to be credited for its proportionate share of any abatements obtained by landlord. We have considered and rejected landlord's other arguments.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.