Lenexa Kansas: Ranks as One of the Best Places to Live in the Country
BY: BECKY WILSON
Lenexa, Kansas is a city with an interesting history and a vibrant future. In 1854, members of the Shawnee Tribe owned the site which was to become Lenexa. It is the 9th most populated city in the metropolitan Kansas City area. Today’s Lenexa is an active community, where over 100,000 people are employed in manufacturing, distribution, retail and professional occupations.
Lenexa is home base to major corporations including American multinational technology company Garmin LTD. With three major highways intersecting in the heart of Lenexa, transportation and distribution-based companies have easy access to getting in and out of the city. Another positive attribute for Lenexa is the 21,000+ miles of fiber optic cable laid throughout the city.
Old Town is the original town site of Lenexa and was founded in 1869 by Octave Chanute, a civil engineer who purchased 41.5 acres near the railroad from Charles A. Bradshaw. This area is comprised of traditional mixed-use development and includes businesses, homes and churches. The historic business district still stands at Pflumm Road and Santa Fe Trail Drive. A rail line owned by BNSF Railway runs through Old Town. It played a part in the growth of Lenexa and continues to influence land use in the area.
Farmers Market
Lenexa City Center is Lenexa’s modern newer downtown area. Very visitor friendly, it combines a mix of colorful entertainment venues, dining spots, living options, retail spaces, modern hotels and office options. This walkable neighborhood is at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard corridor. The newly designed 200-acre district is conveniently located along highly-traveled Interstate 435 and is less than a few miles from the Johnson County Gateway Interchange where Interstates 35 and 435, U.S. 69, K-10, and K-7 meet. A short 15-minute walk from the highly popular Shawnee Mission Park, Lenexa’s City Center is a true live/work environment with high levels of urban design and architectural quality.
Sar-Ko Aglow photo credit Wendy Delzeit
Often referred to as the City of Festivals, Lenexa hosts many special events each year, providing family-focused activities and entertainment for residents and visitors to their community. Keeping to the flavor of Kansas City, Lenexa sponsors their annual Lenexa Chili Challenge in October. About 200 teams compete for top honors in the chili, salsa, and hot wings contests. Private team parties are popular on Friday evening before the Saturday contest where tasty samples are given to everyone on Saturday.
For the live music lovers, Lenexa hosts their annual Lenexa Outdoors Concert Series and invites everyone to bring their favorite lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner and enjoy a variety of live music in a lovely outdoor setting at the Lions Memorial Shelter. Additional Lenexa events include a Tails on the Trails Pet Festival, a Tiny Tot Triathlon, the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle and the community-focused Spinach Festival. For those who enjoy visual arts, theater or cinema, a trio of new events hosted by the Lenexa Arts Council offers fresh new ways to explore the arts in Lenexa.
Walking to FVCC
Lenexa has an 83/100 score for its livability and this special city ranks among some of the best places to live in the country. Taking into consideration several important factors including the median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Lenexa ranks high the housing category. This city has diverse and aesthetically pleasing residential housing, apartment, independent living, and senior communities, many of which include desirable amenities for comfortable living.
While you’re in the area, check out some of the hot communities!
The Enclave at Prairie Star
The Enclave at Prairie Star is an exclusive Lambie Custom Homes community. Two cul-de-sacs on Prairie Star Parkway, West of Falcon Ridge Golf Course. Maintenance provided luxury villas, will be 1.5 story, ranch, and reverse 1.5. You can enjoy a carefree lifestyle. At The Enclave at Prairie Star trash removal, lawn care and snow removal are all included in the monthly Homes Association fee. This community is minutes from exceptional dining, shopping and quick access to Highway 7, 10 and 435.
Bristol Highlands
Bristol Highlands is a brand new community located at 83rd and Monticello. Conveniently located, with easy highway access, this community will feature a variety of new home options from maintenance provided villas to larger wooded estate lots in future phases.
The first phase of this community includes 29 maintenance provided villa lots for luxury new homes starting at $450,000. Reservations are currently available for this first phase. The area features many walkout and daylight lots backing to trees with beautiful expansive Northeast views, as well as level lots minimizing steps to the yard….
The first phase also brings on 24 multi-family luxury twin villa units for sale, starting at $375,000. Select luxury twin villas will be available for lease in Spring 2020. All will be maintenance provided. The villas units have been designed to the last detail by Jeff and his team to create lasting value, with special emphasis on the most important spaces. They will feature front and side entry garages, among other unique design features preserving privacy.
This property offers a picturesque setting for your new home with an ideal location in scenic Western Lenexa Kansas. Residents will enjoy the natural surroundings that include numerous walking trails, great access to parks, and minutes away from the new Lenexa City Center. Visit www.Bristolhighlandskc.com, or call 913.210.8900 for more information.
The Reserve at Manchester Park
Located just east of 7 Highway and Prairie Star Parkway, The Reserve at Manchester Park offers 16 new exclusive home sites in Western Lenexa.
New residents will enjoy a community park, walking trails and a neighborhood pool. Homeowners will also appreciate the close proximity and the amenities of Lenexa’s 210 acres, Black Hoof Park. Black Hoof Park offers a 35-acre boating and fishing lake, multiple park sites and nearly 5 miles of walking trails.
Community features include:
- Award-winning Olathe school district
- Walking distance to Manchester Elementary School
- Great Amenities and community activities
- Cul-de-sac lots with beautiful views
- Lots backing to green space
- Multiple floor plans available
- New home sites available now
J.S. Robinson Fine Homes is the select builder. With award-winning customer service and a variety of plans, the J.S. Robinson team offers a unique and comforting approach to homebuilding. Homes starting at $450,000. Visit www.reserveatmanchesterpark.com, or call 913-298-9296 for more information.
Timber Rock
Timber Rock is a premier New Home Community based in Lenexa, Kansas near 95th & Lone Elm. Developed by B.L. Rieke, the community features homes priced from the $500’s to $1.5 million. Greenspace and landscaping are key to this community. The developer has taken care to conserve as many natural trees as possible on this beautiful lush property, giving homeowners mature natural surroundings. Homeowners will also enjoy close proximity to Black Hoof Park. Black Hoof Park offers a 35 acre boating and fishing lake, multiple park sites and nearly 5 miles of walking trails.
Timber Rock amenities include:
- Pool & Clubhouse
- Half Basketball Court
- Kids Play Structure
- Walking Trails
The development features two subdivisions within the community, The Trails and The Bluffs. The Trails features builders such as Rodrock Homes, James Engle Custom Homes, Bickimer Homes and New Mark Homes. The Bluffs features builders such as B.L. Rieke, J.S. Robinson Fine Homes, Mastercraft Construction, Roeser Homes, Woodbridge Custom Homes, and any community approved builder. Lot prices range from $99K to $250K. Visit www.timberrockks.com, or call 913-660-2226 for more information.
Fairway Villas at City Center
The Fairway Villas at City Center offer comfort and luxury living with all the amenities and none of the hassles. The Villas lifestyle includes leasing flexibility (rather that ownership) and professional management both inside and out of the villas, Residents enjoy living with no mortgage payments and no unexpected repairs/expenses to deal with. A convenient location, The Villas are in walking distance to the new Lenexa City Center where there is both casual and fine dining, shopping, entertainment, a beautiful new library and several recreation options.
Villa residents enjoy the stunning nature and golf course views. Built by Lambie Custom Homes, The Villas feature detailed craftsmanship and custom finish packages. The 2,300 square foot floor plans incorporate oversized picture windows, extensive molding and trim, hand-scraped hardwood floors and premium carpet are throughout the homes. The spacious kitchen designs, storage spaces, living rooms and separate dining areas that feature an open design for everyday comfort and entertaining make Fairway Villas ideal for enjoyable Lenexa living.
“Fairway Villas is a boutique community, which will total 80 homes at the completion of the community later this year. While demand is currently outpacing supply, additional residences will be completed in 2019 and are available to be reserved now. The villas have the same features and feel of a free-standing home, combined with professional management. Since comprehensive 24/7 maintenance is included, residents are free from the worry of the cost of unexpected maintenance or finding and scheduling experienced, reliable service people,” said Jeffrey Alpert, Co-Developer. Visit www.fairwayvillascitycenter.com or call 913-283-9958 for more information.
Canyon Creek – Maintenance-Provided Homes in Densely-Wooded Lenexa Paradise
Prime Development Land Company is well-known for its creative and distinctive residential developments throughout the Kansas City area that consistently exceed customer expectations. One of the newest and most beautiful neighborhoods they have developed in the past 25 years is Canyon Creek Point.
Located in Lenexa just north of Kansas Highway 10 at the western end of Prairie Star Parkway, Canyon Creek Point is situated atop a high ridge with deep stream valleys on two sides, offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. And because city-owned parkland and a natural conservation area surround the community, residents are assured that those views will remain forever unspoiled. All of the lots at Canyon Creek Point are naturally positioned to provide ultimate privacy, backing to treed parkland or common area. And over 80 percent are suitable for walk-out basements. For more information visit their website or call at 913-271-4455 or 913-634-9592.
WaterCrest Landing
Judging by the brisk and continuous sales activity at WaterCrest Landing, it’s safe to say that the word is out about Johnson County’s best-kept secret. After a groundbreaking in April 2018 introducing 50 lots, just 8 homesites remain as a flurry of construction continues throughout the Johnson County community. The second phase is set to release this Fall 2019 in mid-October.
Several builders of the WaterCrest Landing building team, includes Spiess Homes, Remington Custom Homes, Rob Washam Homes, R.M. Mears, Coleman Homes, Hillman Homes, Spectrim Homes and AspenCreek Homes have speculative homes in various stages of completion. Other builders include
Annie Kennedy of Realty Executives of Kansas City, who markets WaterCrest Landing for P&L Development, said the community’s spec homes tend to sell as soon as they’re finished and urged prospective buyers to contact WaterCrest Landing now for up-to-date availability. The floor plans are unique and distinctive in design for those looking for variety.
An appealing combination of quality-built homes, prime location, affordability and the convenience of a maintenance-provided and maintenance optional lifestyle have drawn a variety of homeowners to WaterCrest Landing. Kennedy likened the varying styles of reverse 1½-story and 1.5sty floor plans to “mini-mansions”—the perfect space with which to down- or right-size.
What’s astounding about WaterCrest Landing is that many of the community’s early sales were made without a model row. Yet when Spiess Homes debuted his Chalet plan this Spring it won the GOLD AWARD for Design, Kennedy said the reaction was immediate.
“He made an instant and dramatic impression on the community and prospective buyers,” Kennedy said. “The way he combined modern farmhouse with rustic finishes it gave the homes an edge, and he went outside the box with features like a walk thru shower and separate laundry/Martha Stewart room.”
The sophisticated craftsmanship and superior attention to detail have become hallmarks of WaterCrest Landing, and the community’s other builders have there own unique finishes. Consider the community’s furnished model home—The Chalet by Spiess Homes —which offers open floor plans accented by eye-catching features and finishes that seamlessly blend style and functionality.
Come visit The Aspen model by AspenCreek with a pond/lake view. Inside, an open floor plan creates an effortless connection between the living room, kitchen and dining area, which leads out to a covered deck with an amazing view of nature and wildlife. Mixed materials including white oak plank floors, stone accent walls and 12’ft ceiling with wood beams in this modern mountain home adds a sophisticated yet functional aesthetic that’s further enhanced by a contrasting palette of nebulous white, champagne gold and chic charcoal gray.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom Keystone by R.M. Mears offers a similarly open floor plan that flows from the entryway into the living room, kitchen and dining area. A covered deck awaits off the dining area, offering a picturesque view of green space, trees and a lake. The master bedroom, complete with a sumptuous, spa-like bathroom complete with a large tiled shower, dual vanities and built-in cabinets and storage space. A finished lower level is complete with a large wet bar with additional bar seating. This model sits on a maintenance optional lot.
Prospective buyers are encouraged to visit WaterCrest Landing and tour these beautiful homes in person. While you’re there, you’ll also see a number of homes in progress, including new model homes from the $465,000 – $750,000 range.
Part of WaterCrest Landing’s appeal as a lifestyle community is that it helps residents get more out of the recreation and activities they love. Because WaterCrest Landing is maintenance-provided, homeowners have peace of mind that their homes are cared for while they travel—especially appealing during the hectic holiday season. Provided maintenance includes lawn care, snow removal and trash/recycling, as well as maintenance of common grounds, all for a $187 monthly fee. A community pool is planned in the near future. The second phase will open an additional 70 lots in Phase II. A majority will be walkout treed lots.
That convenience extends to the community’s prime location. Nestled within the rolling terrain of southern Johnson County, WaterCrest Landing is just north of Prairie Star Parkway on Monticello located across from beautiful Lake Lenexa/Black Hoof Park. The picturesque setting offers lush surroundings without compromising quick, convenient access to nearby highways, shops and services.
Prices: $465,000 to $750,000, Directions: Kansas 7 North to Prairie Star Parkway exit, go north on Prairie Star Parkway to Monticello, go North to 89th and Monticello. For additional info about WaterCrest Landing, contact Annie Kennedy at 913-481-6708 or Tom Bohanon 913-940-0266.
