Fall colors enhance views

The large number of people who visited the Communities of River Ridge during the Fall Parade of Homes discovered that fall is a great time to tour this southern Overland Park community. Every home offers sweeping views of colorful fall foliage.

Homebuyers who didn’t visit during the Fall Parade can still see all that this custom-home development has to offer. Once there, they shouldn’t hesitate to select a home site for their dream home because opportunities for a premium home site are dwindling. Many recent buyers chose River Ridge for their new home and it is buzzing with building activity.

River Ridge, south of 159th Street on Kenneth Road, has a tranquil setting but is close to city conveniences. “Many people who visit are surprised how close River Ridge is to everything you need: highways, shopping, restaurants,” said Lettiann Southerland, who markets the community. “But it feels like it’s miles from the city. It’s peaceful here.”

River Ridge sits high above the Blue River Valley and overlooks Aubrey Vinyards, with the homes offering expansive views in all directions. It includes a number of neighborhoods, but home sites are available in only two: the Enclave at Sunset Hills and Sunset Hills.

In fact, only six walkout home sites in the Enclave at Sunset Hills overlooking the vinyards and four walkout sites with private, wooded back yards remain. Buyers who want level home sites large enough to accommodate side-entry garages and private swimming pools may select from 20 sites in the Enclave. In Sunset Hills, only three large, wooded home sites are available.

Those who need a faster move-in timeline than building a custom home allows may select one of the inventory homes that are in various stages of completion.

The model home and sales office is in the Enclave at Sunset Hills. This 1 1/2-story Denali Chalet plan by Tabernacle Homes is adapted specifically for its premium home site overlooking the Blue River Valley. The open design of the main floor includes a great room, flex room, island kitchen with a large walk-in pantry and butler’s pantry, and dining area that opens to the covered deck.

The main-floor master includes a bath with tiled shower, soaking tub and double vanities, as well as a large walk-in closet that conveniently connects to the laundry. A curved staircase leads to a loft overlooking the great room as well as three additional bedrooms, each with its own bath. This home is priced at $675,000.

Wheeler Design Custom Homes has two homes under construction. The first is a reverse 1 1/2-story Bayview plan in Sunset Hills that offers four bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms. The hilltop home site backs to a private wooded area and offers sweeping views to the north. The open design of the first floor includes the master suite as well as another bedroom with bath that could be an office, a great room, island kitchen with large walk-in pantry, dining area and large covered deck. On the finished lower level are two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a rec room with a bar and a game room. The lower level opens to a second deck. This home is priced at $589,900 and is nearing completion.

Wheeler’s other home is a two-story Monterrey offering the master suite and three other bedrooms with bathrooms on the second floor, as well as a bedroom/office and another bath on the first floor. The second-floor laundry conveniently opens to the master bath and the hall. The main level has an open design that includes a great room with fireplace, hearth room with another fireplace, dining room, breakfast room and island kitchen with a walk-in pantry, as well as a covered deck with a fireplace. Construction is about half done and the home is priced at $574,500.

Two new builders in the Enclave at Sunset Hills have started inventory homes. Reed Fuller Construction is building a reverse 1 1/2-story plan that will be priced in the upper $500,000s and ParkView Homes will begin construction of a 1 1/2-story plan in November. Tabernacle Homes also has started a new 1 1/2-story home that will be priced around $600,000.

Other award-winning builders working in River Ridge include Comerio Corporation, Braklow Custom Homes, Bickimer Construction, Taylored Homes, James Engle Custom Homes and Krueger Homes. Other builders are welcome with developer approval.

Amenities include a pool, tennis courts, volleyball courts, fishing ponds and playground. Students attend schools in the Blue Valley School District. 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 October 31, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Fall colors enhance views."