KCRag Forum

taxi wrote:I love the area up by Sauer Castle. Not sure what it's called. It's a little hillbilly, but eclectic, too.

Google's calling the wedge between the river, 69, and 35/SW Boulevard "Shawnee Heights".

If I didn't have kids, it would be the Fairway or Westwood area.

Since I have 2, I chose a neighborhood just south of Corporate Woods in OP. Mostly for the schools, but I've found every store or kid friendly activity I need is 10 minutes away or less and it's only 20 minutes to my office in downtown KC. I prefer Leawood over OP, but we go downtown all the time so I've grown attached to the quick access to highway 69/I-35.

Westwood Hills

Interesting question as I hope to be moving back to KC in the next few years and my resolve to stay on the Missouri side is not as strong as it once was. Prairie Village, Fairway and Westwood seem to be the best bets for us on the Kansas side. I love the location of Fairway but I'm not crazy about the housing stock which seems high priced for the quality it offers. Mission Hills would obviously be an option if I wanted to blow my entire retirement on the cost of a home. Northern Leawood isn't bad but it's a bit further south than I wanted to be. South of 435 is not going to happen for us - we will be in downsizing mode.

The 20 minutes downtown from any of the northern Johnson County burbs seem like absolutely nothing to me coming from Houston where all location decisions and daily routines are based largely around traffic considerations. Wherever we end up, it will be a choice of neighborhood and amenities and it won't be influenced by which state, city or fire district has perceived higher or lower taxes.

Somewhere near Mass Street in Lawrence

lawrence, of course.

but assuming we're talking KC burbs, the only reason why we would move to KS would be for "the schools." to me, the only real option would be close-in JoCo - Fairway, WWood, Wwood Hills, PV, Old Leawood.

as others have noted, the real estate in this area is very pricey though. for all the "urban hate" endemic to this metro over the past 40 years, it sure is expensive to live near it (on the KS side)!

if we could afford it, we would probably have no issues moving into a cool mid-century atomic ranch in old leawood. good vibes, close enough to urban amenities, and good schools.

nothing against WyCo or KCK, but if we move out of KCMO it won't be to there.

chrizow wrote:lawrence, of course.

but assuming we're talking KC burbs, the only reason why we would move to KS would be for "the schools." to me, the only real option would be close-in JoCo - Fairway, WWood, Wwood Hills, PV, Old Leawood.

Lawrence should be considered a KC Burb btw, its only 40 miles away, harrisonville is about the same distance and I believe that is considered a suburb.

KU gives Lawrence a "real city" feel that places like Harrisonville lack. The former can stand on its own aside from KC, while the latter loses most of its significance without reference to the metro (at least in my worldview.)

Neither one is a suburb. Yet.

Eon Blue wrote:KU gives Lawrence a "real city" feel that places like Harrisonville lack. The former can stand on its own aside from KC, while the latter loses most of its significance without reference to the metro (at least in my worldview.)

Boulder is very much a city in its own right but is included in the Denver Metropolitan Area for population purposes. Lawrence is not in KC's (although a ton of people live in one and work in the other). And while Denver and Boulder don't have a lot of empty space between them, it hasn't been until relatively recently that the empty space has evaporated.

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Put Shawnee Kansas on that list!

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/ar ... 48734.html

the video is worth the watch. They need a better sales person though.

Alright, how about a poll widget on the thread?

Imarealperson wrote:

WSPanic wrote:PV
North Leawood
Spring Valley/Rosedale
Mission Hills (if I win the Lottery)

Basically, the closest to KCMO I can get. I like Strawberry Hill/downtown KCK neighborhoods, but they seem further from KCMO downtown. That could be perception vs. reality.

You seriously think PV and North Leawood are closer to downtown?

Umm.... no? Did you have a point, or did you chime in to be a dick and prove you hadn't read my entire post?

I still think Mission has a lot of potential, but that East Gateway project really put them back. Johnson Drive could be a nice walkable "Mass Street-lite" if done right.

KCMax wrote:I still think Mission has a lot of potential, but that East Gateway project really put them back. Johnson Drive could be a nice walkable "Mass Street-lite" if done right.

Hopefully now that the street repairs are complete, there might be some new tenants toward the west. Some better dining options and a better use for the old fine arts theater would go a long way.

WSPanic wrote:

Imarealperson wrote:

WSPanic wrote:PV
North Leawood
Spring Valley/Rosedale
Mission Hills (if I win the Lottery)

Basically, the closest to KCMO I can get. I like Strawberry Hill/downtown KCK neighborhoods, but they seem further from KCMO downtown. That could be perception vs. reality.

You seriously think PV and North Leawood are closer to downtown?

Umm.... no? Did you have a point, or did you chime in to be a dick and prove you hadn't read my entire post?

Wasn't trying to be a dick. I was looking for clarification. I still don't understand it. Strawberry Hill is about as close to the loop as Martini Corner.

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You don't have to get on 70, but it helps. James St to 12th st bridge is my preferred route.

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