We understand that soon after buying 21 Shepard Street, Lynn, MA you demanded rent increases of $400 and $500 per month. These are working class households, and they cannot afford such drastic and sudden increases. The rents you demanded would force some of the families out of their homes, and create grave hardship for others.

A majority of the tenants in the building sent you a letter asking to meet to work out an agreement for more gradual rent increases. They committed to paying their current rents in the meantime. You did not agree to meet, and instead responded by sending "no cause" eviction notices.

We are writing to urge you to stop threatening the tenants with eviction, and meet with the tenant committee to reach a compromise. Your demand for increases of up to 28% goes far beyond keeping up with increased costs, and is not sustainable for families already struggling to make ends meet.

The tenants in this building have strong connections to the community with jobs, churches, healthcare providers, childcare, English classes, and family members in the area. Many have young children who attend nearby public schools including Lynn Tech, Washington Elementary, Classical, and Breed. Pushing these tenants out would hurt them, and would also undermine the stability of area classrooms, local institutions, and the neighborhood. As someone who owns numerous properties in Lynn and who works with local lenders such as Winchester Savings Bank (which financed the purchase of this property), you must understand how businesses as well as residents benefit from a stable and vibrant local community.

We believe a better alternative to a long conflict in court and in public is a negotiated resolution. We urge you to make an agreement that keeps the 21 Shepard St tenants in their homes with fair, gradual, and sustainable rent increases. That would be a good outcome for everyone involved, and a signal to the community that you want to play a positive role in Lynn.

Sincerely,