Page 72 - BusinessWest September 19, 2022
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                                               Most of the rooms come with a fireplace.
ing, the ornate craftsmanship in all of the trim work, the grand ceilings, the chandeliers, the fireplaces ... to me, it just spoke of having a law-firm practice inside; it’s a magnificent place to have a law firm.”
Royal said she heard anecdotally that there were a number of other suit- ors for the Alexander House when it came on the market. She believes she prevailed because her passion for the property quickly became evident, and she convinced then-owner Thomas Schoeper that she would be a good custodian of the landmark.
“He really wanted someone who would be a good steward of the prop-
erty and really cared about its history and character and the integrity of the building itself,” she noted. “I spent a lot of time talking with him about all that.”
Royal closed in February of this year and has spent the past several months giving the property that ‘love’ she said it needed. Improvements have included a new HVAC system, an alarm system, remodeling the kitchen, installing IT wiring throughout, and painting many of the rooms, she said, noting that the property is subject to historic covenants and monitored by Historic New England, and also subject to an annual inspection and historic preservation.
“I thought it was magnificent — the spiral staircase alone just stood out to me. But every facet of the architecture — the crown molding, the ornate craftsmanship in all of
the trim work, the grand ceilings, the chandeliers, the fireplaces ... to me, it just spoke of having a law- firm practice inside; it’s a magnificent place to have a law firm.”
The firm moved in a few weeks ago and is still settling in, Royal said, add- ing that, with a property of this vintage, there will always be work to do.
“That’s going to be a never-ending project,” she said. “That’s the way it is with historic buildings.”
Meanwhile, her new mailing address is everything she hoped it could be and would be when she first started thinking about it as a future home all those years ago.
“Everyone here just loves it — it’s a great place to work,” she said.
Right Place, Right Time
Noting the continued growth of her law firm, Royal was asked if the Alexan- der House provides the requisite space for additional team members.
She said it did, but in a more emphatic voice, she noted that she would not be moving again — soon or probably ever.
“We may grow in other regions — that’s the plan — but this will be our headquarters building,” she said. “This is home.” u
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]
    Insurance You Understand.
A Relationship You Can Trust.
        Mark Rosa, Daniel C. Dias, CIC CIC
(413) 586-5011 | www.Borawskiinsurance.com
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