New Pre School Opens September 2015 in Brookside/Waldo Area

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Brookside/Waldo families now have another preschool option: Rhyme&Reason Preschool of the Arts at 7100 Main St, inside the New Reform Temple, opens this month! (Note: the school is renting space, there is no religious affiliation). This is a wonderful addition to our neighborhood, and the two sisters operating the school are so very excited to show off their new space to prospective children, their parents, and the community.

Rhyme&Reason has a unique focus as well–their mission is to ‘encourage, inspire and guide every child through a school based on community, experience and learning through the arts”. All types of art will be introduced to kids at the school, and incorporated into their everyday activities.

Ashley Held and Brittany Margolies

The twin sisters in charge, Ashley Held and Brittany Margolies, have worked in preschools for the past ten years. Both have a BFA in Visual Arts and Design from KU, and Brittany earned her master’s degree in education from UMKC. Ashley and Brittany believe they are offering a ‘fresh take on preschool’ , combining their passion for art, design and children. They were inspired by another pre-school focusing on the arts: Sweet Pea Cottage in Seattle.

Rhyme&Reason classroom

When I met with Ashley and Brittany, they explained what makes the school different: the classrooms are mixed ages (from 2-5, no potty training required) and every week there is a different ‘theme’ to focus on . For example, one theme could be the human body. Teachers and students would discuss the body in circle time; a nurse would be brought in as a guest speaker; the kids would examine different medical equipment and how it’s used, etc. In addition, each month the school will feature a different artist and incorporate him or her in various activities. If Rauschenberg was the featured artist, various types of collage work would be incorporated into activities during the month.

Rhyme&Reason offers two light-filled classrooms featuring games, puzzles, a sensory table, pretend play area and various toys and books. There is a garden to explore just outside the front door. It is a nut-free campus and the school provides a daily snack; students bring a sack lunch. There is also video surveillance and secured entry to the building. The school year runs from September through May, and for this Fall, offers a morning session only from 8:30-12:30. They hope to add an afternoon session in February. Rhyme&Reason is community focused: they will teach the kids about volunteering, and want to bring in community leaders like a local chef to help the young ones with cooking classes (there is a full kitchen) or a high school teacher to help with science experiments. Volunteers are welcome here!

If you, or someone you know, is searching for a pre-school in the Brookside/Waldo area, check out Rhyme&Reason Preschool of the Arts. You can reach Ashley or Brittany at teacher@rhymeandreasonschool.com.

Waldo Home Prices Continue To Rise in 2015

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Wonderful Waldo continues to be a hot location for buyers this year! There are so many different types of housing here: everything from charming, spacious two-story homes with welcoming front porches to smaller, two bedroom ranch style homes. I am reporting on single family home sales stats for the area of State Line to Holmes, and Gregory to 85th:

In June 2015, 50 homes sold with a median list price of $160,000 and a median sales price of $162,300 and 33 days on market. The lowest closed sales price was $36,500 and the highest was $495,000.

In June 2014, 26 homes sold with a median list price of $139,900 and a median sales price of $140,000 with 46 days on market.

The reasons for the higher final sales price compared to the list price could be: a buyer financed their closing costs into the loan or there were multiple offers on some homes, pushing up the price. The $495K home that closed, on the 7400 block of Summit, was the highest sale so far this year in Waldo.

Checking year to date figures:

From January through June 2015, 176 homes have sold with a median sales price of $158,500.

From January through June 2014, 157 homes had sold with a median sales price of $140,000.

Median sales prices are up for the year, along with fewer days on market in Wonderful Waldo! Currently there are 54 active listings in Waldo, with a median list price of $125,000 and 31 days on market. The lowest price house is $54,000; the highest is $315,000.

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

Armour Hills Home Sales Report – June 2015

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Armour Hills homeowners continue to gain equity as prices are up and buyers know our neighborhood as a desirable place to live. Let’s check the June 2015 home sales for Armour Hills (Brookside-Kansas City MO), followed by comparisons to last year:

In June 2015, eleven homes sold with a median list price of $285,000; a median sales price of $283,000 and …just five days on market!

In June 2014, seven homes sold with a median list price of $230,000; a median sales price of $228,000 and 7 days on the market.

We had our highest priced home sale so far this year; it was the beautiful house at the northwest corner of W 65th Terrace and Main that sold for $461,000. The lowest sales price last month was $206,000.

Checking year-to-date figures:

From January through June 2015, 46 homes have sold with a median sales price of $262,000 and 29 days on market.

From January through June 2014, 34 homes sold with a median sales price of $239,950 and 28 days on market.

More homes are selling this year, very close to asking price, and most sell within 30 days of listing.

Currently there are seven homes for sales in Armour Hills; the lowest list price is $149,999 and the highest is $315,000 with 64 days on market.

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

Waldo Home Prices Continue Upward Trend – Stats for May 2015

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

I am a bit behind in reporting home sales stats for Waldo…it’s the busy home buying season! I thought the week leading up to July 4 would be slow, but for me, it turned out to be busier than a regular work week! Sales continue to be strong in Waldo; the area I am reporting on is State Line-Holmes and Gregory to 85th St.

In May 2015, 36 homes sold with a median list price of $175,000 and a median sales price of $174,000 with 37 days on market. The lowest closed sales price was $41,000 and the highest was $375,000.

In May 2014, 41 homes sold with a median list price of $139,950 and a median sales price of $139,150 with 31 days on market. The lowest closed sales price was $23,000 and the highest was $279,000.

The May 2015 median price was higher than normal due to the $375K sale–that is a high home price for the Waldo area, however there is a pocket of homes west of Wornall that can bring the higher than normal price. Note the days on market are virtually the same–which is good for home sellers, knowing the average length of time to get a home under contract is just over 30 days. Also, the final sales price is close to the list price.

Checking year to date figures:

From January through May 2015, 130 homes sold with a median sales price of $158,500 and 35 days on market.

From January through May 2014, 126 homes sold with a median sales price of $140,000 and 49 days on market.

Sales prices are up for the year, along with fewer days on market in Wonderful Waldo!

Currently there are 44 homes for sale in Waldo, with a median list price of $140,000 and 55 days on market.

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

Armour Hills Home Values Up Over 7% YTD-May 2015 Stats

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Good morning neighbors! I have positive news to report again about home values in our Armour Hills subdivision. Prices are up–some sellers are getting over the asking list price! As a Realtor, I do not advocate offering a price that is significantly over the posted price. (it is happening very often this spring in the Prairie Village homes priced from $225-$300K). Still, it’s all about what the house is worth to a particular buyer….and the appraiser of course! Here are the home sales stats for Armour Hills in Brookside, Kansas City MO for the month of May, 2015:

In May 2015, eleven homes sold with a median list price of $256,900 median sales price of $262,000 and 36 days on market.

In May 2014, nine homes sold with a median list price of $259,000; median sales price of $252,000 and 76 days on the market.

The median sales price was higher than list price in May because: one home sold for $8500 over list price; another home sold $7000 over list price and a third sold $3000 over list price. When you take those three homes out of the equation, the median list price was $256,900; sales price $255,000–very close to asking price.

Checking year-to-date figures:

From January through May 2015, 35 homes have sold with a median sales price of $262,000 and 36 days on market.

From January through May 2014, 27 homes sold with a median sales price of $243,000 and 34 days on market.

Generally, homes are going under contract within one month of listing. Median prices are 7.5% over the same period in 2014. Currently we have 8 homes for sale in Armour Hills, with a median list price of $269,000. The lowest priced home is $174,900 and the highest is $300,000.

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

Second Annual PorchFestKC Happening June 13 in Kansas City

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

This Saturday, June 13 is the second annual PorchFestKC in the West Plaza area. It’s an event not happening in Brookside or Waldo, but I’m writing about it anyway because it’s such a fun, unique happening…and perhaps someone will be inspired to organize a PorchFest for Brookside!

PorchFestKC is a free music festival, where residents offer their porches and front yards to local musicians to play for the afternoon. The general boundaries for the event are: Westport Road to 47th St, Genessee to Terrace. More than 100 different bands are expected to perform on nearly 40 porches and — potentially 6000 people will be walking around the neighborhood, soaking up the music. You’ll hear various types of music, and all performances are acoustic or ‘near acoustic’.

We can thank Brookside resident Kathryn Golden for bringing PorchFest to Kansas City. It is a national event, and Kathryn attended one in Napa, CA (there are about 30 PorchFests in North America this year) . When she moved back to Kansas City, Kathryn wanted to ‘make a project for herself’ and decided to organize the event in her (then) West Plaza neighborhood. It is a huge commitment of her time: she reviews all applications for the bands, organizes the volunteers, solicits sponsors and manages the media. This year there will be a few food trucks scattered about, and you may see some pop up art for sale in the yards.

A few other items to note if you plan to attend: all musicians play for tips only, so visitors are encouraged to bring a pocketful of small bills and tip those performers you listen to. Parking is virtually non existent as this is a tight residential area–so plan on parking the car elsewhere (or carpool, ride the bike, etc) and walking to the festival. Bring a lawn chair if you like. This is a family friendly, alcohol-free event. Rain date is Sunday June 14. A line up of bands, where they are playing, and a map are available at www.porchfestkc.com or at www.facebook.com/PorchFestKC.

Armour Hills Home Sales Stats – March 2015

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Armour Hills home sales are sizzling hot this spring! Sales so far this year are almost double of 2014. Let’s examine the numbers:

In March 2015, twelve homes sold with a median list price of $265,000; median sales price of $257,500 and 42 days on market.

In March 2014, three homes sold with a median list price of $325,000; median sales price of $325,000 and two days on the market.

So far in 2015, eighteen homes have sold with a median sales price of $257,000.

In the first three months of 2014, ten homes sold with a median sales price of $239,950.

We’ve had a big jump in the number of homes sold compared to last year. Overall, the median sales price is much higher as well.

Open house traffic is very strong in our neighborhood, and any new listing that pops on the market has several showings in the first couple of days. Currently there are 10 active listings in Armour Hills, with a median price of $267,500 and 23 days on market. I expect the figures for April 2015 to be just as strong.

Rare Four Bedroom Home For Sale in Brookside!

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

613 E 66th St For Sale in Brookside

Here we are, in the middle of the very busy Spring home selling/buying season in Brookside! There are many, many buyers looking for homes….and a lack of inventory, especially in the $200-$225K price range. So my listing in Armour Hills Gardens should sell quickly!

Second floor family room–rare for this area, and at this price!

This is a true four bedroom home, which is hard to find in this price range. The home features a Cape Cod floorplan, with two bedrooms and a full bath on the first floor, and two bedrooms and a full bath on the second floor. Also on the second floor–a large family room, perfect for TV viewing or gaming!

Natural light streams into the updated kitchen

The kitchen features newer cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and a long row of windows overlooking the backyard area–lots of natural light here! Just outside the kitchen is a dining room area, which also leads into a spacious screened in porch. That is my favorite area of the home–it’s so relaxing to sit here, read a book, chat with friends or enjoy a meal protected from pesky flies and bugs!.

Relax here after a long day at the office!

You’ll find hardwood floors on the first floor, except for the kitchen (tile floor), and freshly cleaned carpet on the second floor. There is also an attached garage, full walk out basement and large fenced yard in back.

Living room with built-ins and fireplace

Located in popular Armour Hills Gardens, this is a great location and so convenient…just west of Holmes, and close to St Peter’s Church/School, Brookside shops and services, Metro bus stop and Highway 71 is within a mile. Contact me for a private showing, or click my website for more pictures. 613 E 66th St, offered at $214,000. A lot of space for the price!

New Rotary Club Started for Brookside/Waldo Area Residents

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

Would you like to get more involved with your Brookside/Waldo neighbors? Are you thinking it’s time to meet some new friends and network with other professionals? Then you may be interested in finding out more about the new Waldo-Brookside Rotary Club.

Dan Ryan (an Armour Hills resident) was a member of the KC Plaza Rotary Club. The Plaza group had been discussing the concept of starting another club, so Dan and several other members started on the paperwork and recruitment. They decided a Rotary Club with an early evening meeting time and no meal expense could bring the Rotary experience to a broader group of people. Thus, the Waldo-Brookside Rotary Club was born.

Angie Gutierrez is the chapter President, and we recently met at the Roasterie so she could pass along details of the group and it’s purpose. Rotary club objectives include “the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life” and “the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service”.

As the members of the Waldo-Brookside group network with each other and get a feel for their club’s ‘personality’, they will create plans to give back to the community where they live and meet. Although this new club is still working out what specific ways they will help our neighborhood, it could include a theme project like “schools” — which would mean promoting scholarships, cleaning up school grounds, funding needed school materials, etc. Each Rotary chapter decides for itself the community services it will provide.

The requirements for membership are simple: professional adults (this group tends to fall between the ages of 25-50), dues (currently $50 per quarter), and regular attendance at the weekly meetings. This Waldo/Brookside Rotary Chapter meets each Wednesday at 5:30pm at The Well in Waldo for one hour…Angie is very conscious of keeping the meetings on track and on time! The usual agenda will include discussing projects and often feature a guest speaker. Everyone is welcome to stay and socialize after the business meeting if they like, as Angie describes their meetings as a ‘happy hour type of club”.

You probably know someone who is involved with the Rotary organization. If you are interested, contact Angie at angiemgutierrez@gmail.com. Or, you can just stop by one of the Wednesday night meetings to get a feel for the group—everyone is welcome!

It’s Here–KC Restaurant Week Jan 16-25 2015

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Mary Hutchison

January…the most boring month of the year! The weather is cold, trees are barren and everything outside looks gray and dingy..except for the bright, soft focus sunsets! Hard to muster up the energy to go out after you are settled in at home….

That’s why January is the perfect time for Kansas City Restaurant Week! From Jan 16-25, we have ten days of bargain priced meals at many of KC’s finest restaurants. This is the time to try the pricier spot you may have heard about for the low price of $33 for a three course dinner ($15 for a two course lunch). Many of the eateries are locally owned and and operated; and there are all kinds of cuisine offered–from pizza to boar meat!

All of the participating restaurants donate a portion of their profits to these three organizations: Boys Grow, Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired and Cultivate KC.

Below is a list of the Brookside/Waldo spots offering special menus during the week. You can go to www.kcrestaurantweek.com to see individual restaurant menus, make reservations and see a complete list of all the places throughout the metro area offering the prix fix deals.

75th St Brewery Louie’s Wine Dive

District Pour House and Kitchen Michael Forbes Bar and Grill

Julian Waldo Pizza

Lew’s Grill and Bar The Well

Thank you for supporting KC Restaurant Week! Reservations fill up fast so make yours today!

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

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

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