About Mary Hutchison

Every day I'm driving around my cherished neighborhood of Brookside (and Waldo)...observing what's going on, watching new businesses move in and out, and touring homes (I'm a Realtor with Weichert Realtors). Starting this blog about Brookside/Waldo is a way I thought I could promote the area and spark some discussion about what's happening here...and what's going to happen. Your comments are welcome.

Brookside Home Sales Stats – Aug 2018

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

Brookside home sales are slowing down, as they typically do in the second half of the year. Homes are sitting on the market longer, however prices are still strong, outpacing last year. Below are the stats, using the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

August 2018 August 2017

Median list price: $350,000 Median list price: $376,000

Median sales price: $337,500 Median sales price: $358,750

No. of homes sold: 27 No. of homes sold: 24

Days on market: 23 Days on market: 37

The highest closed sales price last month was $780,000 and the lowest was $217,500. Prices dropped almost 6% comparing the two months.

Here are year-to-date numbers:

Jan-Aug 2018 Jan-Aug 2017

Median list price: $399,950 Median list price: $382,447

Median sales price: $394,000 Median sales price: $370,000

No. of homes sold: 195 No. of homes sold: 208

Days on market: 19 Days on market: 19

Overall, home values are up 9.8% ytd over last year!

Currently there are 57 active single family home listings in Brookside, with a median price of $429,000 and 66 days on market. Interesting that 24 of those homes are priced under $400K–usually those sell quickly. The lowest list price is $229,900 and the highest is $4.5 million.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Waldo Fall Festival Happening Sat 9/15/18

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

September is full of outdoor festivals in the KC area, and one of the most family friendly is the Waldo Fall Festival, happening this Saturday, Sept 15, 2018 at the southeast corner of 75th and Wornall in the parking lot, from 10am-5pm.

Now in it’s 26th year, the Waldo Fall Festival is a celebration of the wonderful, eclectic Waldo neighborhood: lots of local music playing throughout the day, local vendor booths, food trucks, rides and games for the kids and …no admission charge! It’s a fun time for all ages.

Because the intersection of 75th and Wornall is usually heavily congested with cars during a normal day…on Sept 15 it will be even more challenging to work around. Bike or walk to the festivities (take the Trolley Track Trail!) — or if you drive, park a few blocks away. Be extra aware of more foot traffic around the stoplights here and watch for little kids, bikes, scooters, etc.

Celebrate cooler weather, visit with neighbors and friends at the Waldo Fall Festival this Saturday!

Flying Horse Taproom-Now Open in Brookside East

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

Another locally owned and operated business recently opened in Brookside East–Flying Horse Taproom at 600 E 63rd St. I stopped by recently and talked with General Manager Philip Nixon. The food looked so good I came back for dinner later that evening!

Here’s the scoop on the bar and what’s on tap: twenty-one craft beers, seven wines (that will rotate), Second Best Coffee Cold Brew and Lucky Elixir Kombucha. Coming soon: unique “oak barrel conditioned” cocktails. I tried two drinks: the Cucumber Ginger Lemonade and Strawberry Basil Gin. Delicious and refreshing! Nixon emphasized they support locally based purveyors, including Restless Spirits Distilling Co, Tom’s Town, Second Best Coffee and Glace Ice Cream (Nixon is working with Brewery Emperial and Glace for a special beer inspired flavor).

Philip Nixon, General Manager

As for the food…there are a couple of unique options on the appetizer menu, including the popular Beer Mug Pretzel from Pretzel Boys, ‘Nduja Dip (prosciutto, spices, peppers mixed with goat and cream cheeses) and Cheese Curds. There are several salad options featuring homemade dressings. And the flatbreads…with fresh ingredients and house made red sauce. We tried the Four Cheese Sausage Kale and The Classic; other options include Brookside Brie, the Cubano and a Thai Chicken Basil. For lighter appetites–it’s easy to fill up sharing a salad and flatbread.

Longtime Brooksiders may remember this spot at a Mobil gas station; current owner Trey Sabates (who owns Brookside Wine and Spirits next door), had the old tanks removed, teamed up with some friends and turned the station into the restaurant with a cozy patio in front. Inside, there is a full bar, several tables and artwork from Sabates private collection on the walls. Nixon has an extensive background in food service and trains the staff well–our waiter was sincere, friendly and attentive.

The Flying Horse Taproom is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11am-11pm and Sunday from 11am-9pm. Happy hour features $1 off all menu items and food is available to go. Stop by and welcome Philip and the staff to the neighborhood!

Waldo Serve Day -Sat Sept 8

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

Have some spare time and want to give back to your community? Waldo Serve Day is this Saturday, Sept 8, 2018. There will be several places where you can volunteer for a few hours to help improve our local area.

Meet at HJ’s Youth and Community Center, 6425 Wornall, at 8am for breakfast; there you will be assigned a project location… possibly be Hale Cook Elementary, Cleaver YMCA, graffiti clean up, etc. Work till 11:30am, then back to HJ’s for lunch if you like.

There are a few more details on the HJ’s event calendar. This event is hosted by Restore Community Church in Waldo.

Waldo Home Sales Report – July 2018

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

Waldo home values continue their upward climb compared to one year ago…demand is very strong for the moderately priced houses you can find in this area. Here is the July 2018 single family home sales report for Waldo, using the boundaries of Gregory to 85th St and Holmes to State Line:

July 2018 July 2017

Median list price: $215,000 Median list price: $149,725

Median sales price: $210,000 Median sales price: $162,000

No. of homes sold: 43 No. of homes sold: 30

Days on market: 8 Days on market: 5

The lowest sales price last month was $47,000 and the highest was $460,000.

Year-to-date stats below:

Jan-July 2018 Jan-July 2017

Median list price: $199,900 Median list price: $175,000

Median sales price: $200,000 Median sales price: $176,000

No. of homes sold: 237 No. of homes sold: 243

Days on market: 15 Days on market: 15

Compared to the same time period last year, Waldo sales prices are up 13%! Currently there are 27 active listings, ranging in price from $115,000 to $398,000 and 27 days on market.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Big Splash Car Wash in Waldo-Under New Management

Posted on August 21, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

Today’s blog is about a locally owned business at 8320 Wornall Rd: Big Splash Car Wash. The business is under new ownership and recently celebrated a grand ‘reopening’.

big splash

Claire Cunningham and her husband Jason own several of these car washes around the KC area—other locations include Overland Park, Westport and a new site opening in Grandview this Fall. Claire explains the design of the property is for “easy in and easy out to get your car washed. There are three entrance lanes including a special lane for members only”. Drivers stay in the vehicle as it goes through the wash, and free DIY vacuums are available. The car wash is designed to service up to 150 cars an hour (!!). I used the wash a couple of weeks ago and was finished up, including vacuuming my car interior, within 20 minutes.

At Big Splash, you can stop in for a one time wash or purchase a membership and they have several packages available. I did a quick run through called the “Splash ‘N Dash” for $8, which washed the outside with a jet dry. The machines did a pretty good job for the price of the wash.

One thing to note if you want to try Big Splash: the never ending road construction along this part of Wornall can make it tricky to find the entrance to the business. It’s been frustrating for the owners! So be aware of the road blockage and work vehicles as you get closer to the location. Big Splash is located on the west side of Wornall, near McDonald’s.

Big Splash Car Wash is a good alternative to the total self-service wash farther north on Wornall at 74^th St, and less expensive than the full service Waterway on State Line Road. Stop in and try it—support our locally owned Waldo businesses!

Armour Hills Home Sales Report-July 2018

Posted on August 20, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

Interesting stats for the Armour Hills subdivision in Brookside–a slight dip in home values to report and several homes currently on the market. That’s a change from previous months. Let’s look at the numbers:

July 2018 July 2017

Median list price: $349,950 Median list price: $335,000

Median sales price: $348,450 Median sales price: $335,000

No. of homes sold: 9 No. of homes sold: 6

Days on market: 3 Days on market: 5

The lowest closed sales price last month was $200K and the highest was $430,000, $10,000 over the list price. Year-to-date stats below:

Jan-July 2018 Jan-July 2017

Median list price: $315,000 Median list price: $320,000

Median sales price: $315,000 Median sales price: $322,500

No. of homes sold: 45 No. of homes sold: 59

Days on market: 5 Days on market: 7

Median home prices are down 2% compared to 2017, however this may be a one month blip. Homes are still selling quickly in Armour Hills and there is less inventory than 2017. Currently there are 13 active listings, at a median list price of $329,000 and 33 days on market.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Brookside Home Sales Report-July 2018

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

Just over halfway through the year and home values continue to rise in Brookside. As we get closer to the cold weather, fewer homes will be listed resulting in fewer sales. Here is the July 2018 sales report for Brookside, using the zip code of 64113:

July 2018 July 2017

Median list price: $415,000 Median list price: $394,975

Median sales price: $415,000 Median sales price: $392,500

No. of homes sold: 27 No. of homes sold: 26

Days on market: 23 Days on market: 10

The lowest sales price last month was $200,000. The highest sold listing is located at 6505 State Line Road–the large Art Deco style home with the white exterior built in 1935. Listed in 2015 for $3.3 million, it closed last month at $1.5 million. This home is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Checking year-to-date figures:

Jan-July 2018 Jan-July 2017

Median list price: $409,000 Median list price: $384,900

Median sales price: $397,000 Median sales price: $375,000

No. of homes sold: 169 No. of homes sold: 185

Days on market: 16 Days on market: 17

Compared to last year, median home prices are up 9%. Fewer homes have sold, with about the same days on market. Currently there are 60 houses on the market in Brookside, with a median price of $507,475 and 56 days on market. Nine of the homes are priced over $1 million; 30 total over $500,000. The lowest listed price is $260,000 and the highest is $4.25 million.

(all statistics taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Waldo’s Euston Hardware is Remodeling

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

A longtime Kansas City local business, Euston Hardware store has been around since 1999. With four locations, including Prairie Village, Smithville, Red Bridge, and Waldo, owner Kevin Euston (son of founder Ken) has been providing the Kansas City area with hardware supplies for almost 20 years. The Waldo store, at 126 W 75th St is currently undergoing a remodel…and still open for business while they are working on it.

Euston says it’s important to “freshen up the inventory” after a while, as hardware changes and newer offerings become available. The store recently updated the exterior, and it has a stylish retro vibe now, thanks to the art deco style building that used to be an A&P market. Inside, the store will feature taller and longer shelves, new lighting, and over 5000 new items including more tools, a bigger fastener department, lawn items and cleaning supplies. The check out area has moved as well, to the east side of the shop.

I stop in the Waldo Euston store often–to get keys made or pick up my favorite hardwood floor cleaner and stain remover. The staff is always friendly and asks “Can I help you find something?” when I walk in–very important as I certainly don’t know the location of over 5000 items! Watch for a grand ‘reopening’ within the next few weeks after the project is complete.

Thank you for supporting locally owned Brookside/Waldo businesses!

Brookside Market Days Begin Saturday

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Mary Hutchison

For the second year in a row, the Brookside Business Association is sponsoring Brookside Market Days, every Saturday in August…kicking off this Saturday Aug 4, 2018.

Start your day at the Brookside Farmers Market, then visit various shops for special events. For example, the New Dime Store is featuring pop up shops, beginning with Betsy Roo handmade greeting cards and prints this Saturday, followed by Willett Studios (handmade earrings) and Gypsee KC (woodburning art) on successive weekends. COCO also has pop up events; Worlds Window is featuring Shibori dyeing, Charlie Hoopers will offer $1.50 hot dogs!

In addition, buy a $10 Brookside Market Days reusable totebag (available at the market and New Dime Store) for extra discounts at places like Roasterie, Fiddly Fig, 5B & Co Candlemakers, Design in the City, Brookside Barkery and Worlds Window.

Live local! Support Brookside businesses and participate in Brookside Market Days–every Saturday in August. More details at www.brooksidekc.org.

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

What's Happening In Brookside and Waldo (Kansas City, Missouri)

Author Archives: Mary Hutchison

About Mary Hutchison

Brookside Home Sales Stats – Aug 2018

Waldo Fall Festival Happening Sat 9/15/18

Flying Horse Taproom-Now Open in Brookside East

Waldo Serve Day -Sat Sept 8

Waldo Home Sales Report – July 2018

Big Splash Car Wash in Waldo-Under New Management

Armour Hills Home Sales Report-July 2018

Brookside Home Sales Report-July 2018

Waldo’s Euston Hardware is Remodeling

Brookside Market Days Begin Saturday