River Ridge has homes ready to move into now

Those who want to celebrate the holidays in a new home are urged to visit the Communities of River Ridge to see a different kind of south Overland Park community.

Th Communities of River Ridge are situated on the rolling terrain overlooking the Blue River Valley and provide a serene ambiance without sacrificing city convenience. River Ridge is a group of neighborhoods at 162nd Terrace and Kenneth Road. Because of the elevation, homes offer expansive views.

Lettiann Southerland, who markets River Ridge for Weichert, Realtors Graham-Welch LLC, said, “It’s worth the drive to River Ridge just to see the fall foliage. This isn’t the typical Johnson County subdivision on flat prairie land. This is an entirely different animal.

“Many people who visit are surprised how close River Ridge is to everything you need: highways, shopping, restaurants. But it feels like it’s miles from the city. It’s peaceful here.”

River Ridge includes several neighborhoods, but only three still have home sites available. The Enclave of Sunset Hills opened a year ago with more than 40 estate-size home sites along cul-de-sac streets or backing to green space and homes starting at $500,000. Only six home sites are available in High Point, where homes begin in the high $300,000s and fewer than a dozen remain in Sunset Hills, where homes start in the $450,000s.

Four homes are available in The Enclave of Sunset Hills, three of which are completed and one that will be finished in 30 to 45 days.

The nearly completed home demonstrates the uniqueness of what is offered at the Communities of River Ridge. This 11/2-story Danali Chalet by Tabernacle Homes was adapted specifically for its home site overlooking the Blue River Valley.

Because of the home site’s slope, all of the rooms on the main level and the deck provide the feel of being in a tree house. The heavily wooded site affords privacy, as well as changing views as the trees leaf out in the spring, provide an abundance of shade in the summer, turn to rich golds and reds in the fall and create interesting sculptures against the winter sky.

“This home has expansive floor-to-ceiling windows in the two-story great room to take advantage of the view,” Southerland said. “A second-story loft also is oriented toward the windows.”

The home offers four bedrooms and 41/2 bathrooms in 3,400 square feet of finished living space. The buyer will have the option to finish the lower level to add another 1,300 square feet. The home is expected to be priced in the $600,000s.

The three model homes in the Enclave of Sunset Hills are now for sale and ready for the new owners to move in. They include a two-story plan, The Johanna, built by Tabernacle Homes. This custom design offers four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half-bathrooms with an optional fifth bedroom in the lower level.

A 11/2-story plan, The Vista built by Wheeler Design, has four bedrooms and 31/2 bathrooms. Wheeler Design also built the Bayview, a reverse 11/2-story plan with three bedrooms and three full and two half bathrooms.

Premium home sites are still available for those who want to move to the Enclave of Sunset Hills, a custom-built community. Many of the sites back to woods that overlook the new Aubrey Vineyard and others are large enough to accommodate in-ground pools. An ample number of walkout and daylight home sites also remain, but Southerland doesn’t anticipate they will last long. Buyer traffic continues to be brisk as the clock ticks down to the end in this sprawling southeastern Johnson County community.

The Enclave of Sunset Hills continues River Ridge’s tradition of being a community of custom-built homes. The award-winning builder team includes Bracklow Custom Homes, Bickimer Construction, Taylored Homes, Tabernacle Homes, Wheeler Design, James Engle Custom Homes, Krueger Homes and Comerio Corporation. Several have custom-built homes underway.

The Enclave of Sunset Hills is open to any builder who works in the Kansas City area with developer approval of home designs. The neighborhood is situated on one of the highest points in Overland Park, providing sweeping views over the Blue River Valley and numerous vantage points to observe the changing seasons.

Wheeler Design has just started building a reverse 11/2-story home on one of the few remaining home sites in Sunset Hills. It has 3,700 square feet and will be priced in the upper $500,000s.

In the High Point neighborhood, Comerio Corporation is building a reverse 11/2-story plan with 2,700 square feet of living space and priced in the low $400,000s. Comerio is starting construction of a two-story plan, also with 2,700 square feet of space.

Amenities at the Communities of River Ridge include a pool, tennis courts, volleyball courts, fishing ponds and playground. Students attend schools in the Blue Valley School District. River Ridge has some of the last available home sites in the attendance area of the original Blue River Elementary and Blue Valley High schools.

Residents have quick access to Interstate 435, U.S. 69 and Missouri 150. They are within minutes of an abundance of shopping and dining venues at 135th Street and State Line Road and along 151st Street.

For information, contact Lettiann Southerland at 816-898-5477.

This story was originally published November 1, 2014 at 7:00 PM.