Neighborhood Renewal

The signs of a building revolution are obvious when driving through Kansas City's leafy grand dame neighborhoods like Mission Hills, Old Leawood and Prairie Village. Lots where outdated homes once stood have morphed into stunning structures enhancing the ambience of the coveted areas. So-called infill development has moved from the urban core into tony and established environs to capitalize on the desirability of neighborhoods along the state line and transform aging housing stock into heirloom-worthy homes.

Architect John Schutt, owner of Studio 605, relocated to Kansas City three years ago. “I've lived in a market where sustainability is at the forefront like San Fran and a city like cosmopolitan Austin that has one of the country's best home efficiency review boards,” he says.

When John and his wife, Suzanne, moved to her hometown, the couple made a beeline for Old Leawood and its tree-lined, walkable streets, where many homeowners and buyers want the neighborhood's stately feel but with homes sporting the bells and whistles of their south suburban cousins. The Schutts are building on a lot where the previous home had severe foundation and termite damage and was gutted following a structural analysis.
 
John is particularly sensitive to scale and context in the design of the new home, which he says is a key attitude when revitalizing older neighborhoods. “Ideally, you want to preserve existing trees and the overall quality of a site,” he notes. “Then you have to pay attention to scale and ensure the new home is compatible with the architecture of the area.”

The infill trend is not without its controversy, and John says that frequently when residents in older upscale neighborhoods object about new-build projects next door, it's because, for example, a two-story home suddenly pops up next to a 50- to 60-year-old ranch. “It's imperative to acknowledge — but not be limited by — what qualities of a neighborhood you want to emulate when building a new home in these areas,” he stresses. 

Kirk Cornelius of Cornelius Homes grew up in Old Leawood and is a third-generation builder. He just completed a total house redo in Prairie Village on a full-acre lot and says the new home's character fits like a glove into the existing surroundings. “It's a traditional design with a bit of a New England tidewater style with gray stone, tile and white trim,” he says. “You could drive by the house and not know it's new.”

Kirk has built half a dozen homes over the past several years in the Mission Hills, Old Leawood and Prairie Village neighborhoods and says people are attracted to the large lots, schools and overall convenience of shopping, entertainment and dining. “Many people ready for a new home choose to stay in the area rather than go out south because it's where their life has been for the past 20 years,” he says.

Joe and Debra Peppard are Old Leawood homeowners who perfectly match Kirk's description. “My family has lived in Kansas City since the 1870s, and I have a passion and respect for [the area's] diverse architecture,” Joe says. 

The Peppards moved back to Kansas City after a 15-year hiatus in the southwest and immediately embraced the flavor and feel of the familiar neighborhoods of Joe's childhood. They redesigned a traditional ranch and injected liberal doses of Mediterranean and Prairie influences, and the resulting interpretation is a home that gives a nod to the character and culture of the neighborhood. The original home was 2,000 square feet and the sparkling, energy-efficient remodel encompasses 4,700 square feet and is harmonious with the lot and neighborhood.

“We maintained a low roof line and used materials to give more texture and depth to the home's exterior,” Joe says. 

The couple's affinity for the outside/in concept is apparent throughout the home, with features like 36 windows, a closed interior atrium and three courtyards. “The whole house has an element of attachment to the outside,” he says.

Commercial developer and Kansas City native Ben Bortnick rebuilt his home at Somerset and Roe that is a picture-perfect specimen of a Colorado contemporary. “I've owned the house for 11 years and wanted to stay here,” he says. “I like being close in on a beautiful lot.” 

Ben, along with architect Ed Tranin and engineer Dave Dorau, painstakingly designed the house, which has a slate roof, copper gutters, travertine stone and outdoor amenities like a ski resort-style fire pit and a Mediterranean-inspired pool and multiple waterfalls. The original 3,000-square-foot house was built in 1960 by Kansas City builder Charlie Koehler, and Ben now has approximately 6,500 square feet of living space — including spacious lofts — in the new home. 

“We took great care that all of the views were maximized and used the space efficiently,” he says. “We moved interior walls to create a better interior flow, have four different heating and cooling zones, heated floors, master bedroom steam shower and dry Swedish sauna, and a hot tub off the master bath. “I feel like I walk into the ultimate vacation house every time I come home.”

Quality of life for his entire family was important when choosing to remain in the home. In addition to the adult-friendly amenities, Ben paid close attention to his children's quarters. His daughter's room overlooks the black-bottom pool and fire pit; his son's room features a spectacular hand-painted mural reminiscent of a mountain scene.

“I've always loved this lot and knew I couldn't get one like it anywhere else in Kansas City,” he says. “The lot alone justified the expenditure of the remodel. We adore living here.”
 

Ben Bortnick's ‘Colorado contemporary' home sprawls across its oversized lot in the heart of Prairie Village, near a park and Corinth Square. He says the renovation basically involved building “a house over a house,” meaning he lifted the rafters to create soaring ceilings and multi-floor living. The desirable location combined with an updated floor plan and façade is a win-win situation for Ben and his family.

When remodeling their home in Old Leawood, Joe and Debra Peppard wanted to keep their home a true ranch, which is in line with the rest of the neighborhood. Fortunately, their deep lot allowed them to expand the footprint outward and still have space for outdoor living and a rain garden in the backyard. The expansion made room for a sunroom, extra bedroom for an office or mother-in-law quarters and a spacious entertainment room, with pool table, bar and seating around a flat-screen TV. A new stone exterior and landscaping are the only clues that the house has been altered.

Mark Eddy of Gahagan-Eddy Building Company loved living in Prairie Village, especially with its walking proximity to the charming shopping enclave at 71st & Mission, but wanted a newly built home with modern amenities. He bought the house next door to his and did a full 180 on the former tract home, increasing the footprint only slightly to accommodate five bedrooms for his growing family. The Cape Cod is larger than the other homes on the block, but Mark was careful to keep the house in scale, in a style representative of the surroundings and a dark color so it would blend in. He kept the style's characteristics inside, too, from woodwork and tile details to rooms with walls and specific purposes. “I didn't want any rooms that we would never use,” he says.

Want to take a tour?

You can see the latest construction and accoutrements in home design in a lovely older neighborhood this fall:

September 25-27
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Tickets are $10 at the door and benefit Children's Mercy Hospital

TLConcepts will be showcasing state-of-the-art ideas and products by bringing together prestigious builders, award-winning architects and developers, and a top-rated television station. The project will be open in a public home tour, with ticket sales benefiting Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics.

The KMBC Concept Home in Mission Hills is at 63rd and Verona, where it replaced a teardown. It boasts plenty of stone and a barrel tile roof to complement the neighborhood, and mature trees were preserved. 

TLConcepts manager John Walden says the magnificent $3.895-million, 9,127-square-foot home perfectly anchors the corner lot. “The architect, my partner and I were extremely conscious of building an upper-bracket home that would add to the neighborhood,” he says. “We chose to buy the ground because it's the best area in Kansas City to build a home of its stature.”

Complete with four bedrooms, four and two half baths and a three-car garage, the Tuscan-style home fits today's modern families' needs. Tour-goers will enjoy the extras in a luxury home, including a wine cellar and tasting room, pantry off the third garage to store volume purchases, and rear courtyard with an outdoor loggia and covered porches.

For specific tour information and more details on the home, visit www.kmbc.com/concepthome.