Real Estate Publisher Offers to Help Goldbergs Find a More Suitable Tenant


David Russell owns a major commercial real estate magazine that serves Western Massachusetts, and another that serves Connecticut. He is sending this letter to Barry and Annette Goldberg, owners of 135 King Street, offering to help them find a more suitable tenant for their property than a large porn shop…

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Goldberg:

October 5, 2006

As the long-time owner of two commercial real estate magazines that market more than one billion dollars of commercial real estate in Connecticut and Western Mass., I have a strong understanding of the world of commercial real estate. And I understand that no building owners want to see their buildings sitting vacant.

However, I believe the use of your King Street property by Capital Video for purpose of selling pornographic videos and products is extremely harmful to our Northampton community. By now, you are aware of the nature of our community opposition: impact on the surrounding residential neighborhood, the alleged criminality of the Capital Video owner, the denigration of women in its video products, and last but not least, the dehumanizing effect pornography can have upon men.

Would you mind if Capital Video launched an outlet down your street in Longmeadow if it could and if zoning allowed it? Might you be concerned about your property value? What if you had children who passed by it each day?

Although the zoning currently allows for this use, I urge you to reconsider your efforts with Capital Video and find another tenant for your building. If and when you are willing to do so, I will run a free full-color ad for your King Street property in my Western Mass. magazine for as long as it takes you to find a suitable tenant.

Obviously, any vacant building is a financial strain to its owner. But I am offering what I can to assist you in leasing it at no cost to you.

Sincerely,

David C. Russell

3 thoughts on “Real Estate Publisher Offers to Help Goldbergs Find a More Suitable Tenant

  1. Ouch, way to slam a kind gesture.

    Sounds to me like Mr. Russell is one person who takes the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics seriously. I quote (emphasis added):

    Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. REALTORS® should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment.

    Such interests impose obligations beyond those of ordinary commerce. They impose grave social responsibility and a patriotic duty to which REALTORS® should dedicate themselves…

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