Waldo Crawldo Happens Sat 6/11/16

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

It’s time for that crazy and fun annual event, the Waldo Crawldo! It’s happening this Saturday June 11, 2016 in the heart of Waldo from 8pm-midnight.

This year’s theme is Superheroes and Villains–so do dress up! Prizes will be awarded in various categories. Of course there are drink specials at each spot–ten bars are participating, including Lew’s Bar and Grill, Quinton’s Waldo Bar, Tanner’s Bar and Grill and the Waldo Pizza Tap Room. Thank you, locally owned businesses, for hosting this event!

Please drink responsibly and remember, bars are within walking distance! Tickets in advance are less than at the door…here’s the info page: www.waldocrawldo.com

New Patio Open at Bier Station

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

New Patio at Bier Station in Brookside

The new expanded patio is open at Bier Station!

I remember back in December 2012 when John Couture opened Bier Station in Armour Hills at 120 E Gregory . He was one of the pioneers of the specialty brew shop–and now there are almost too many to count in the KC area. Bier Station is Brookside’s “Cheers” bar…friendly staff who know who you are and love talking about the beer offerings they have for sale.

New Food Options at Bier Station

There are some other changes at Bier Station besides the patio: more food on the menu, including smoked wings, sliders, flatbreads, soups, and new sandwiches. John and his kitchen staff are currently testing new items such as seasonal salads and vegetables, and a few sweet treats. Whatever goes over well with the customers (they want feedback!) will make it to the menu.

Also coming soon is a new ordering app called “Meagan”, which will allow customers to order food and beer from their tables in the bar that will be delivered by bar staff.

More about the patio…it will feature a rain proof awning, electric heat lamps, more seating and more dog hooks. A perfect place for sipping a brew, noshing on tasty food and visiting with friends. Stop by and enjoy one of our warm spring evenings on the new Bier Station patio!

Brookside Farmers’ Market Opens Saturday 4/16/16

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

Mother Nature and our local farmers are preparing for another spring and summer full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. I’m getting hungry just writing about it! The Brookside Farmers’ Market focuses on organic produce, dairy and meats, as well as homemade baked goods, with some crafts, soaps,and other items for sale. The atmosphere is family friendly, festive and often features live music. The market opens at 8am on Saturday April 16, at 63rd St and Wornall Road.

The Waldo’s Farmer’s Market at 303 W 79th St , now in it’s sixth year, will open May 4 from 3-7pm. Here you will find fresh veggies, herbs, baked goods, ice cream, nuts and many other interesting locally produced items for sale. Both market accept SNAP dollars.

Remember to bring bags to carry your purchases!

Golden and Pine Grand Opening Saturday in Brookside East

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

Let’s welcome a new business to the growing Brookside East neighborhood…Golden and Pine. This is a handmade home and garden goods store, having it’s Grand Opening Saturday March 19, 2016 from 1-5pm at 633 E 63rd St (south side of E 63rd, across from the new apartment construction).

Stephanie Agne, Owner Golden and Pine

Owner Stephanie Agne was a dietician for several years yet home decor was her passion. She worked for a while at a home store boutique in Maine, and when she and her husband moved back to hometown Kansas City, it was time to open her own place. After looking at various KC locations, she decided on Brookside East. She wanted a place with ‘good light’ and was excited about what was happening in the area. She found Butch Rigby’s vision ‘inspiring’ and signed a lease in one of his recently purchased buildings.

Golden and Pine has a warm and modern feel, with products made of natural materials like wood, cork and cotton. Stephanie knows the origin of each product she sells; most are unique to her shop and almost all are hand made. (You’ll find a story card beside each product.) Items for sale include some furniture, pillows, candles, soap, lotions, garden items, napkins, books–the perfect place to browse and find something to freshen up your home!

If you can’t stop by the Grand Opening on Saturday–come by during her regular business hours of Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-6pm. I’m excited about yet another unique, locally owned business opening in Brookside!

Brookside Home Sales Report – Feb 2016

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

What a beautiful day as I write this blog! The trees are flowering all over Brookside–hope we don’t get a cold snap…we are now accustomed used to 60 and 70 degree days!

Checking Brookside home sales for February 2016, I am going to write up the stats in a different format this time–thought it would be easier to read. Take a look:

February 2016

Median list price: $409,000

Median sales price: $399,000

Average days on market: 89

Number of homes sold: 15

(lowest sales price was $213,000; highest sales price was $822,000)

February 2015:

Median list price: $422,000

Median sales price: $397,500

Average days on market: 88

Number of homes sold: 13

(Note the number of homes sold and median sales price are very similar to 2015.)

Now let’s check year to date figures:

2016: 2015:

Median list price: $389,950 Median list price: $374,975

Median sales price: $382,000 Median sales price: $367,500

Average days on market: 57 Average days on market: 84

Number of homes sold: 23 Number of homes sold: 22

The big difference in the YTD figures is the median sales price jumped up–yet virtually the same number of homes sold. Also, homes went under contract faster. There is not much inventory this year in the critical $200-$400K price range and so, prices are up.

Currently, there are 46 active listings in the Brookside zip code of 64113. The median list price is $537,000. That figure is high because 1) the lower priced listed homes sell very fast and 2) 25 of the 46 homes are priced over $500K; 10 of those are over $1,000,000.

It’s going to be a strong season for home buying in Brookside this Spring!

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

Two Big Events in Brookside This Week

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

Two big events happening this week in Brookside…

First, Reading Reptile is closing it’s doors. This unique, treasured children’s bookstore has been a landmark shop on 63rd St for years. Even if you didn’t have kids…you just have to walk in that colorful, art filled store after the welcoming storefront window display caught your eye. Owners Pete Cowdin and Deb Pettid are focusing their time and talents on their newest project, The Rabbit Hole (hard to describe this venture–just click on the link!). All books in the store are now half off, and they are taking bids on fixtures, furniture, art and everything else until 5pm on Friday March 11, 2016. You are welcome to come by Saturday March 12 for the closing party from 10am-3pm. We will all miss Reading Reptile–it was truly a one of a kind, charming and inviting Brookside shop.

Also Saturday–the 36th Annual Brookside St Patrick’s Day Warm Up Parade! Street traffic will be rerouted from the parade route most of the afternoon: Wornall from 65th to 63rd; Meyer and 63rd from Wornall to Main; and Brookside Road from Gregory to Meyer. The parade begins at 2pm and runs for approximately 90 minutes. I’ll be there…walking with my fellow real estate agents with the Better Homes and Gardens float! Please be extra cautious driving around Brookside Saturday afternoon–watch for kids, bikes, foot traffic and avoid the parade area.

A Conversation with Sean Ackerson, Southtown Council’s New Exec Director

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

Marti Lee

After 29 years leading the Southtown Council organization, Marti Lee retired last year. This is my favorite picture of her–one I took while we were helping with traffic control at the Brookside Halloween Trick or Treat in 2013.

A new executive director, Sean Ackerson, joined Southtown Council earlier this year. He has an extensive planning and economic development background, most recently working for the City of Parkville. A graduate of Oklahoma State University,

Sean Ackerson, Executive Director of Southtown Council

Sean and his family live in Rockhill Gardens. I stopped by his office recently and we chatted about what the Southtown Council is working on.

Do you have any goals you want to accomplish this year?

The Southtown Council overseas seven organizations: the Southtown Council, the Southtown Council Foundation, the Brookside Business Assn and it’s CID; the Waldo Business Assn and it’s CID and the Troost Ave CID. My goals are to continue doing what we do well and evaluate what we can do better. What should we be doing that we aren’t doing? This is a strategic planning year. We want to end the year with a series of priorities for these seven organizations by looking at where we are and where we need to be.

Are there any current specific priorities?

We are working on more parking for Brookside; improving the entryway to Waldo, and improving the image of Troost Ave. We are also working on an art installation for the intersection of 85th and Wornall, the 75th and Wornall fountain improvements, and promoting the districts through public infrastructure improvements, not just through special events.

We are actively now working on the marketing aspect of the Troost Avenue district: most properties along 63rd St from Rockhill Road to Pener Plaza, and on Troost south from Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. We are trying to overcome the negative perception of the area you see on news reports. There are more businesses moving in and the areas along 63rd and Troost provide comparable opportunities to Westport and the Crossroads, but are currently more affordable. There are some really great storefronts and buildings with great bones, all within walking distance of housing, two universities and on a major transportation corridor.

Can you address the situation with the panhandlers at 85th and Wornall?

Each CID has private security that patrol the areas–they make in store visits, walk along the sidewalks and watch the intersections. They look for maintenance issues, places that are being made into shelters and they reach out to panhandlers asking them to move along. Panhandling is a concern for personal safety, and at 85th and Wornall, because of the stoplights and islands, it’s easy to get close to the vehicles. We work through our private security and the police department to minimize panhandling.

Do you feel KCMO City Hall supports the efforts of Southtown Council?

It’s my understanding City Hall has been a good partner. We have always actively engaged with City Hall regarding infrastructure improvements, like the new stoplights at Wornall and 63rd/Meyer. Another example is Waldo partnered with the City on a study of the 75th and Wornall intersection. There are a number of issues in that area: the offset intersection, conflicts between pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and the gap in the Trolley Trail. A three day workshop held in 2015 considered alternatives for improvements, and a plan was selected for putting 75th St on a ‘road diet’ . This plan would reconfigure the parking between 74th and 75th streets and connect the Trolley Trail along the east side of Wornall while reducing the number of lanes on 75th St from 4 to 3. Right now we are finalizing engineering plans and pursuing financing and grants. If all goes as planned, the project could begin in 2017.

I’m very grateful to Sean for taking the time to talk to me for this blog! Southtown Council is a great organization for our area–if you want to know more about how they work, attend one of their monthly lunches, become a member, or just stop by their office at 6814 Troost. For a very small office (Sean and three staff people) — they accomplish a lot for Brookside/Waldo/Troost businesses.

Armour Hills Jan 2016 Home Sales Report

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

Hello Armour Hills neighbors…not much to report regarding January 2016 home sales in our subdivision, so this blog will be short! Here are last month’s home sales for Armour Hills in Brookside:

In January 2016, two homes sold in Armour Hills. The median list price was $264,475 and the median sales price was $269,155. Average days on market: 39.

You’ll notice the median sales price was higher than the list price. This is because one of the two homes sold for $12,550 over the list price. There could have been a bidding war for the property.

In January 2015, four homes sold. The median list price was $232,277 and the median sales price was $232,000. Average days on market: 24.

(as a side note, the $400K house listed on W 70th Terr this month was under contract in less than 48 hours)

Currently there are 4 active listings in Armour Hills, with a median price of $237,475 and 89 days on market.

If you are thinking of selling…or buying a home in Armour Hills, contact me for more detailed information on neighborhood sales!

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

New Juicery Opens in Brookside East

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

Yes, it’s another blog about a new business in the thriving Brookside East area! Unbakery and Juicery opened the last week of January at 634 E 63rd St. Not even one month old and the owner is talking of expansion!

Unbakery and Juicery owner Robin Krause

Nestled between the Brookside Gardens event space and the new apartment complex (63 Brookside) under construction, Unbakery and Juicery is owned and operated by Robin Krause, who spent twelve years as owner of The Filling Station. Walk into this place and you just feel healthier: everything is made on site, and all of her juices and tonics have medicinal properties, incorporating natural ingredients such as coconut oil, aloe, ginger, active charcoal and chlorella. To avoid waste, Robin takes the pulp from the fruit and veggies to make raw desserts, such as apple tarts and carrot cake. Food selections include gluten frees scones and cookies, coconut yogurt parfait and granola bars, plus a few raw lunch options (falafel wrap, kale caesar salad, pad thai); protein balls and crackers. She even makes her own almond milk!

When I visited Robin she was juicing away…she obviously loves her work yet you can see how very labor intensive this process is. It truly benefits the customer, as everything she serves is fresh and preservative-free. I asked Robin about her unconventional logo, and she explained it stands for ‘un’ — as in unprocessed, un- dairy, and unlock the nutrients of natural, raw foods.

For caffeine lovers, she serves coffee drinks featuring locally produced Messenger Coffee and…there is a drive thru window!!! (enter the drive just west of the building, north side of 63rd St). You can also purchase bone broth from Uncommon Stock. And Robin is so committed to her business and healthy eating that she will be offering detox workshops and nutritional classes. The expansion Robin mentioned is focusing on an off site location for more juice/food prep and cooler space.

Unbakery and Juicery is open Monday through Saturday from 7am-5pm, a website is in progress; there is a Facebook page. Another locally owned business for Kansas City folks to support…welcome to Brookside Unbakery and Juicery!

unbakery juices

New Townhomes & Apartments Planned for Brookside

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Mary Hutchison

New, updated housing in older, walkable neighborhoods…there is such a high demand for it. That’s why you see old houses torn down in Leawood and Prairie Village, replaced by multi-million dollar McMansions. Real estate…it’s all about location! But what if you don’t have a McMansion budget? Two new developments in Brookside East may be a good option for renters and homebuyers in our neighborhood.

John Hoffman, left and Lance Carlton of UCB Properties

John Hoffman and his son Lance Carlton own UCB Properties. You may have seen some of their hew housing along the 2700 block of Charlotte, or the townhomes going up at 27th and Campbell. They also built apartments at 2901 and 3630 Gillham. John and Lance have two projects in the works for Brookside East that should both be ready for occupancy later this year.

63 Brookside apartments planned for 63rd and Holmes

John says 63 Brookside is the first apartment complex built in Brookside in forty years. Located at 63rd and Holmes, it will be a three story building with 23 one and two bedroom units; rents ranging from $900-$1500. Each unit will have a balcony; pets are OK and tenants will have secured surface parking in the back. The exterior of the contemporary building will be made of brick and metal; interiors feature all electric appliances, quartz countertops and tiled baths, plus John is working with the KC Art Institute for some unique artwork in the common area and hallways. Pre-leasing should begin in March.

New Townhomes Planned for Brookside on 63rd East of Holmes

As of now, there is no official name for the townhomes project; perhaps 63 Oak Townhomes as these units are located directly east of Heirloom Bakery at 63rd and Oak. Each townhome will be three levels, with two bedrooms, three full baths, a ‘flex’ space on the lower level (that could be a third bedroom), a two car garage, and three private outdoor spaces (front patio, front deck off living room and back deck off the kitchen). The units will range from 1800-2000 SF and be priced in the low $400K price range with a to-be-determined monthly HOA fee. The exterior will feature a ‘modern, contemporary design’ according to John. They plan to break ground this spring and sell in the fall.

Newer home built on the 2700 block of Charlotte

John and Lance, both from the Brookside area, emphasize they don’t build ‘cookie cutter’ homes. They think hard about “the long term effect of what we do”. They use high quality construction materials and nicer interior finishes with high ceilings; the garages are not prominent and there are no front gutters. They want their buildings to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood and emphasize walkability for the residents…encouraging homeowners to get out and walk or bike to enjoy the unique shops and amenities found in Brookside.

Both of these developments are coming at the right time for the developing Brookside East area. Expect to see a lot of activity regarding new retail and services, plus the housing construction–happening along 63rd St east of Oak the next several months.

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

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

Category Archives: Brookside Community News