A Chat with Karen Dempsey-Carney

Think you know Boston? Real estate maven Karen Dempsey-Carney has been on the Hub house scene since the early 80s. Today, the Navy Yard resident is the successful owner of Alliance Relocation and a dedicated member of The Friends of the Charlestown Navy Yard. Recently she sat down with Patch to muse on everything from glass ceilings to clam chowder.    

Q: With Alliance Relocation, you help people from all over the world find communities that are right for them right here in the Greater Boston area – how do you do it?

A: Interesting question, right now I am working with a French family. The answer is that I listen, listen and listen and sometimes I can even hear what they don’t tell me. Est-ce que tu comprends ce que je veux dire? (Do you understand what that means?) That’s about it for my French. Actually, it’s relatively easy since I don’t list homes for sale, nor is Alliance Relocation affiliated with a franchise. Our loyalty is strictly to the client and there is no incentive to promote any particular home or community.

Q: It seems like you’ve been involved in Boston real estate for a few decades, what are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen?

A: I guess the color of my hair has nothing to do with real estate, or does it? Just kidding, I am still a natural brunette. The single biggest change is the advent of the internet. When I started my real estate career in the early 80s, the only listing service we used in the city was LINK and I am not referring to LinkedIn, which came of age recently. The use of MLS (the multiple listing service) and the internet to include social networking are huge changes. Although we are just coming out of a downturn, the price of homes has at least tripled since the 80s.

Q: With your extensive knowledge of the Hub’s many communities – how did you choose Charlestown the place you call home?

A: I spent years on Beacon Hill overlooking Louisburg Square and also enjoyed living in Winchester and then marriage took me to Marblehead. Eventually it was time to come back to the city. The Charlestown Navy Yard met all our needs.

Q: What do you think makes Charlestown different from the rest of Boston’s neighborhoods?

A: There is no other “neighborhood” in the city that has all of what the Navy Yard has to offer. We think it is beautiful, interesting, and peaceful; we have parking, the harbor walk, and of utmost importance for Bear our golden retriever, a dog park which just happens to overlook the Boston Harbor. And this is all outside our front door.

Q: Favorite spot to grab a bite to eat or drink in Charlestown? 

A: No question, it’s the Navy Bistro for dinner and Style Café for breakfast or lunch. When I have a hankering for chowda and a beer it’s the Warren Tavern, for Thai or Chinese I head to Main Street.  For old time’s sake it’s the Tavern on the Water where I used to be a regular when I was a resident on Beacon Hill. We enjoyed the view overlooking the harbor and the city.

Q: Where can we find you when you’re not working hard?  

A: Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but I am in Maine in the mountains during the winter and on the coast Maine coast in the summer. As you can see, I am pretty hard to find.

Q: You’re a very successful business owner - What’s it like being a female business owner in Boston?

A: Thank you that is a nice compliment. As you probably know most real estate companies are owned and run by men. However, most of the agents are women. I first went into residential real estate because I thought it was a career where I could also have a family. Do men need to make that decision?  Turns out I did not meet Mr. Right and get married until I was 48. I am not sure if that is because I was always working or maybe I was having too much fun? 

Q:  I hear you’re very involved with The Friends of the Charlestown Navy Yard. What’s the group all about?

A: The Friends (a neighborhood association) are all about making our community a better place to live and work. The brilliant individuals serving on our board quietly work on behalf of our organization and our community to keep a watch on the quality of life in the Navy Yard, keeping an eye on the harbor and, of course, the future of development. 

Q: How can Navy Yard residents get involved?

A: The best way to get involved is to join FCNY - it’s a nominal membership fee.  We are always looking for volunteers and can use help with our summer event schedule. The free summer evening events and concerts co-hosted by the BRA in Shipyard Park will kick off in June with a children’s program and a visiting magician. In July, we have the Singing Trooper and A Taste of Charlestown, and in August, a 16-piece Harvard Alumni Jazz Band. (You can download a membership application here.)

Q: What’s next for the Navy Yard, we’ve heard murmurings of different businesses coming in?

A: Everyone is excited about the new Spaulding Rehab Hospital (240,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, environmentally conscious, rehabilitative care and research space) which is currently under construction. I can’t speak to what else might be in the pipeline as my focus on behalf of the Friends falls under planning and organizing events for neighbors, businesses and to welcome visitors into the neighborhood. 

Q:  Tell us the truth - Do you secretly tell all your clients that they should move to Charlestown?

A: Truth be told, about 27 years ago when I was a traditional real estate agent working out of a Back Bay office most of my business was in Charlestown and the Navy Yard. Since I founded Alliance Relocation 15 years ago, my clients tend to live outside the city.