Buyers have discovered Ridgestone Meadows

Ridgestone Meadows is tucked way in the rolling terrain of western Shawnee and, although it is just a couple of blocks from Shawnee Mission Parkway between Interstate 435 and Kansas 7, it seems miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life. However, buyers have discovered this hidden gem.

“We’ve sold nearly all of our finished inventory homes,” said community manager Jennifer Harvey with ReeceNichols and a Ridgestone Meadows resident. “We sold seven homes in two weeks and we have six new inventory homes under construction to meet the demand.”

Just entering Ridgestone Meadows shows why buyers are drawn here. The majestic, stone entrance monument that welcomes families home summarizes exactly what homeowners love most about the distinctive homes found throughout the community. It was custom built out of quality materials, commands an expansive view of western Shawnee, is surrounded by a large grove of mature trees and features twin waterfalls to give it a special sense of elegance.

Such upscale touches also went in to each of the homes, which are all carefully sited to blend with their natural surroundings and many offer outdoor living spaces, including screened porches, decks and patios with fireplaces, fire pits and outdoor kitchens. Another activity residents will enjoy is the community’s new swimming pool, which is under construction.

The award-winning builders include J.S. Robinson Fine Homes and Dreams & Designs Building, both of which won First Runner-Up American Dream Awards for their Ridgestone Meadows entries in the Spring Parade of Homes, as well as Rodrock Homes and McCord Homes. The community is also open to outside builders with developer approval.

The builders offer a spectrum of plans including ranch, 11/2-story, reverse 11/2-story and two-story designs, with at least four bedrooms, three bathrooms and three-car garages.

Harvey cautioned that only about two dozen home sites remain in the first and second phases, so those considering building a home here shouldn’t hesitate to select their home site. The third and final phase is in the planning stage.

“The homes are surrounded by trees,” Harvey said. “In fact, owners are required to have seven and a half feet of natural tree line behind their homes and their backyard neighbors also have seven and a half feet of natural tree line, so that’s a minimum of 15 feet of tree line at the rear of the property for added privacy. Some of the home sites have great views of Shawnee in the valley below, adding to their seclusion since they will have no homes behind them.”

The developers also have taken great care to ensure that each home is distinctive, with a limited number of each plan allowed on the same street. If the same house plan is on a street, it must have a different front elevation. An architectural committee reviews all plans.

“This is definitely not a cookie-cutter neighborhood,” Harvey said, adding that some of the current spec homes and models are exclusive to Ridgestone Meadows.

In addition to quality homes on spacious, treed sites, Ridgestone Meadows residents enjoy its friendly atmosphere. There are neighborhood events throughout the year, from Fourth of July parades to Halloween parties and chili cook-offs.

“I love the quality of the homes, strong sense of community and great schools so much that I moved to Ridgestone Meadows with my family eight years ago,” Harvey said.

The award-winning DeSoto School District has also drawn many families to the community. Within minutes of the community are Horizon Elementary and Mill Creek Middle as well as Mill Valley High, which received the Governor’s Award as one of the top 5 percent of schools in the state. The district is currently rated No. 2 in the entire Kansas City metropolitan area by the “Kansas City Business Journal.” Current test scores ranked it No. 1 in math and reading scores for high school students and No. 1 in reading and No. 2 in math for middle school students.

“I tell people Ridgestone Meadows is a hidden gem,” Harvey said. “Its excellent schools and secluded, yet central, location offer everything a homebuyer could want. Because of quick access to Interstate 435, residents are minutes from the rest of Johnson County, The Legends, downtown and Kansas City International Airport. Immediate access to Shawnee Mission Parkway allows for a 20-minute trip to the Country Club Plaza.”

The sales center at 20913 W. 68th Street is open 12 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday or visit the website at RidgestoneMeadowskc.com.

This story was originally published July 11, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Buyers have discovered Ridgestone Meadows."