Five Tom French Homes communities nearly sold out, new locations planned

Because few homes and home sites remain available in the five maintenance-provided communities where Tom French Homes currently builds, this long-time builder is making plans to begin construction in new Johnson County communities early in 2015.

For more than 36 years Tom French has provided quality homes throughout Johnson County. As a leader in maintenance-provided communities, he is offering twin villas, townhomes and stand-alone villas in a variety of price ranges for those who want to enjoy their free time pursuing activities other than mowing the lawn and shoveling snow.

The continued popularity of French’s communities has left only a handful of available homes.

In Foxfield Court at 116th Street and Lone Elm Road in Olathe, only two Alderwood twin villas remain and are shown by appointment. The homes are priced in the $290,000s and will be ready in September and October.

One home is available in Quail Park Villas at 141st Street and Pflumm Road in Olathe. This community offers stand-alone villas with lower level finish. This Bedford I plan is under construction, will be completed in November and is priced at $349,950.

The Village of Holly Ridge, a neighborhood of Craftsman-style townhomes at 158th Street and Lowell Avenue, also has only one home available. This end unit Lexington plan offers a covered deck. The home will be finished in October and is listed for $271,555.

In the Cottages of Cross Point Creek, a boutique neighborhood of Craftsman-style villa homes near 87th Street and Renner Road in Lenexa, all completed homes have sold but 15 home sites are available for those who want a custom-built home. This is the last weekend that the model home will be open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Through October, the home can be viewed by appointment.

Susan Hoskinson, who markets Tom French communities for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes, said construction of new inventory homes will begin soon on two of those remaining home sites, so buyers who want to select their site should act soon.

Tom French’s newest community, the Villas of Highlands Ranch at 137th Terrace just east of Mission Road, also is quickly selling out. Only four home sites remain and French plans to start inventory homes on two of them.

Those who have missed the opportunity to purchase in these five communities shouldn’t despair, however, Hoskinson said. French is planning to open similar communities early next year.

A townhome community similar to Holly Ridge is expected to open next summer near 159th Street and Metcalf, a prime location near restaurants, shopping, grocery stores and services.

Building is expected to begin next spring for new twin villa homes, just across the street from Foxfield Court in the Kansas 7 and College Boulevard corridor in Olathe.

And French will be opening the community of Gatewood next spring, also in the College Boulevard and Kansas 7 corridor.

“Here we will be offering 21 wooded, walkout home sites for stand-alone villas that are being designed just for this exclusive community,” Hoskinson said.

Pricing will be in the $400,000s.

Also planned for early 2015 are luxury townhomes in Tuscany Reserve Village in Leawood, between Mission and Kenneth roads off 138th Street. Only two tri-plexes, a total of six reverse 11/2-story homes, will be built in this popular location and will be priced in the $700,000s.

“This will be a high-end, lock-and-leave enclave, with an expanded maintenance package,” Hoskinson said.

Amenity packages vary from community to community and may include a swimming pool, exercise facility and walking trail. Provided maintenance in all the communities includes lawn maintenance and snow removal, with expanded maintenance for the attached homes.

This story was originally published August 8, 2014 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Five Tom French Homes communities nearly sold out, new locations planned."