Stonebridge Village offers distinctive homes, stress-free living

Located in Olathe is a rare find: An immaculate community with distinctive, maintenance-free homes nestled around inviting communal green space.

In fact, Rodrock Development’s Stonebridge Village at 164th and Mur-Len Road is home to many Kansas City transplants who were admittedly frustrated by the sheer monotony of almost identical homes in developments throughout the Kansas City housing market. For these discerning buyers, the “sea of Johnson County sameness” was severely off-putting.

So residents are thrilled by Stonebridge Village’s distinctive look and ideal location in burgeoning Olathe. The community is made up of charming Carriage Houses, designed by award-winning architects Nearing, Staats, Prelogar and Jones, which are truly refreshing — complete with inviting front porches, rear-entry garages and open floor plans with absolutely no wasted space, all at the astonishing price point of $260,000 to $300,000.

But even more impressive is that for a low monthly fee, all maintenance is seen to, including sprinkler systems, lawn mowing, edging, fertilization, snow removal on streets, driveways and rear sidewalks — giving homeowners time and freedom.

It was this benefit that brought Robin Lundstrum to Stonebridge Village. The thought of shoveling snow, mowing grass and raking leaves was enough to keep Lundstrum in an apartment for more than a decade. Having owned homes in the past, she knew how labor-intensive a house could be. And with running her own business, there were simply not enough hours in the day to hassle with homeownership. That is, until Lundstrum discovered Stonebridge Village.

“In a nutshell, this community makes it possible for me to live in a beautiful house of my own,” Lundstrum said. “It’s fantastic! I’d been looking for a home for a while and fell in love with this house and its layout. These homes are reminiscent of Chicago, where I’m originally from. The front opens onto a common green, which is beautifully landscaped. What’s more, the quality of Rodrock spoke for itself. Everything was just topnotch here. And everyone I have met has been very, very nice. It’s just a lovely area.”

There are currently eight homes available, ranging from immediate possession onward, all built exclusively by Darol Rodrock Homes. Designed in both reverse 11/2-story and classic 11/2-story, the Carriage Houses offer vaulted ceilings, built-in workstations, hardwood floors, granite counter tops, stainless-steel appliances and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the larger Stonebridge community at an extremely affordable price. What many homeowners find pleasantly surprising is that the Carriage Houses come standard with many features typically only included in more expensive homes.

“The homes are situated in what I call a ‘micro-community’ within the beautiful Stonebridge development,” said Phillip Sanders, president of Darol Rodrock Homes. “All are built to the most exacting of standards. They have to be. These Carriage Houses have the Darol Rodrock name and a 30-year reputation relying on them. Each is representative of decades’ worth of experience, reliability and Darol’s standing promise to put the homeowner first. Indicative of that is the fact that each home is backed with a home warranty.”

“And of course, the Carriage Houses are built to the highest thermal efficiency available,” Sanders continued. “Stonebridge Village offers an incredible value with fully loaded, unique homes in a neighborhood with a small-town feel.”

And as part of the larger Stonebridge community, it’s laden with amenities: residents have access to an impressive four pools (all zero-entry, one with a Junior Olympic-sized pool, slide and a fountain), changing cabanas, various playgrounds, separate basketball and volleyball areas, pergola-covered grills, picnic areas, several well-equipped children’s playgrounds and two richly appointed clubhouses with one having up-to-date workout facilities. Another bonus? Paved trails lead directly to Prairie Creek Elementary School, which has won the Governor’s Award an impressive three times.

It was just these impressive amenities that attracted Sue Denny and her husband to the neighborhood.

“We’re very pleased to join a community with wonderful amenities, walking trails and green space, all of which is enhanced by beautiful landscaping,” said Denny. “And the fact that maintenance is provided was a deciding factor in our purchase. We enjoy having the extra time to spend in our new home and spending time with our family.”

Stonebridge also brings residents together with the Rodrock Development Moms’ Council, a concept created by Rodrock decades ago to help neighborhoods get off to a great start. Annual year-round events, including Memorial weekend pool parties and end-of-summer gatherings, help new neighbors get to know each other and have fun.

And with the more than 1,200 acres of Heritage Park close by, residents can enjoy fishing, boating, sail boarding, picnicking, jogging, bicycling and horseback riding trails, athletic fields for team sports, an off-leash area for dogs and an 18-hole championship golf course and driving range.

“We’re offering all the benefits of living in a gorgeous Rodrock community without the hassle of keeping up a yard or fighting the elements,” said Rodrock Development marketing agent Craig Hauser. “We have the rare opportunity where homebuyers can come in and make build decisions or choose different aspects of their decor in a home under construction. What an incredible opportunity.”

This story was originally published March 28, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Stonebridge Village offers distinctive homes, stress-free living."