the Best established Neighborhoods 10 of Kansas City’s Greatest. The homebuilding industry is a hit in Kansas City. Builders have prospective clients knocking at their doors, and developers keep pushing further outward with new ideas for land projects. But sometimes, when you’re looking for a house, you just want something older, something with character, a history and a yard with full-grown trees. Kansas City has plenty of those, too. Here we cover 10 of our favorites.

Brookside
Brookside, or Kansas City’s “Best Kept Secret,” isn’t a secret to many __ it’s quite a popular choice among the locals. Many residents have grown up in Brookside and are now raising their families in the same area. Multiple subdivisions, including Armour Hills, Astor Place, Morningside, Oak Meyer Garden, Rockhill Gardens, Rockhill Ridge and Tower Homes, comprise the neighborhood, a J.C. Nichols development of the late 1920s. Brookside has a home to fit most lifestyles and comfort levels with distinctly different housing options.

Residents enjoy shopping, restaurants, grocery stores and more at their fingertips, plus proximity to the Country Club Plaza, art museums, downtown and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Neighbors gather frequently for events like the Brookside Art Fair in spring, Fourth of July festivities, a St. Patrick’s Day parade and the Brookside Irish Festival every Labor Day weekend. Brookside’s boundary is typically defined as 50th Street to 75th Street and Rockhill Road to State Line.

Price range: $100,000-$400,000. School district: KCMO

Historic Westheight
On the National Historic Register since the 1970s, Historic Westheight is deeply rooted in Wyandotte County’s Kansas City, Kan. The small but mighty community contains a goldmine of beautiful homes and historic treasures. Developed in the early 20th century, the neighborhood boasts a variety of architectural styles, such as Prairie School, Victorian, and Arts and Crafts. They were not all built by the same builders or even in the same period. The neighborhood association, with about 160 members, keeps residents busy with a full agenda. The homes are affordable and the neighbors are a pleasantly diverse mix of people.

Westheight is bound by 18th Street to the east, 25th Street to the west and State Avenue to the south. The north corner includes Everett and Wood.

Price range: $60,000-$200,000+. School district: KCK

Hyde Park
The century-old Hyde Park has become a hot spot for homebuyers in midtown Kansas City, Mo., with the Country Club Plaza, Westport, Crown Center, River Market and downtown only a short drive away. Weaving in and out of the area’s one-way streets, you’re sure to get lost in the charm of the homes’ architecture and fine craftsmanship. Residential homes consist of single-family homes, duplexes and apartment buildings. To showcase the diversity, each fall the homes association hosts the Hyde Park Homes Tour and Festival.

Neighbors not only care about their properties, they work devotedly as a team to make the area a great place to live. From a beautification committee to crime watch to social events, neighborhood volunteers through the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association work together to make this community what it is today.

The neighborhood is defined as north to 31st Street, south to 47th Street, west to Gillham Road and east to Troost Avenue.

Price range: $50,000-$500,000+. School district: KCMO

Lake Lotawana
Missouri’s notable limestone cliffs encompass the quiet community of Lake Lotawana, home to 1,800 residents in eastern Jackson County. Located off I-470 near Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, the beautiful lake community is a mere 30-minute drive to the city for fine dining, shopping and entertainment. Lake Lotawana, itself, is one of the deepest lakes with some of the clearest water around. Residents experience a full range of activities, including numerous boating groups and a garden club, in this mixed neighborhood. The close-knit yet diverse city has its own professional police and fire department and AAA-rated schools. Housing options range widely from one-room cabins to million-dollar estates.

Price range: $100,000-$1 million+. School district: Lee’s Summit R-7

Lake Quivira
Tucked away between rolling, wooded hills is the 900-acre area known as both a community and a city. The gorgeous landscape and access to nearby major cultural and commerce centers relieves the need for residents to leave their homes for a getaway vacation.

The private community of well-guarded homes has its own country club, golf course and lake, plus a variety of organized social activities. The 200-acre, spring-fed lake is perfect for fishing, sailing, boating and swimming. Other amenities include six tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course.

The relaxed, family-oriented environment appeals to young families, retirees and singles alike. The majority of the area is considered Johnson County territory, but the Wyandotte County line runs though one end of the lake, including 17 homes. The entrance to Lake Quivira is at I-435 and Holliday Drive.

Price range: $200,000-$1 million+. School district: Johnson County __ Shawnee Mission District; Wyandotte County __ Turner School District

Mission Hills
Known for excellent schools and magnificent, well-maintained neighborhoods, beautiful Mission Hills is one of Kansas City’s most desired, affluent residential areas. Home to approximately 4,000 residents, Mission Hills provides a small-town feel with all the access to the region’s entertainment, shopping and dining opportunities, most notably the Country Club Plaza.

A collection of architectural styles, including Tudor, French, colonial and contemporary, can be found in this eclectic neighborhood. Condominiums and townhouses also are available. Estate property with golf course frontage and treed lots are just a few of the amenities.

The public schools in the area are top-notch, and Mission Hills is close to some of the area’s best private schools.

Located 15 miles south of downtown, Mission Hills sits just west of the Kansas state line in Johnson County. Price range: $100,000-$1,000,000+. School district: Shawnee Mission

Sunset Hill
Broad, swooping streets, well-tended lawns and head-turning architecture mesh together in the city-driven nature sanctuary of Sunset Hill. Perhaps best known for its role in the Battle of Westport, the area is spotted with historical markers and shares its backyard with Loose Park.

The park isn’t the only source of foliage in the area __ all of the yards are well-manicured with bushes and mature trees, which make residents forget they’re only a few steps from the hustle and bustle of the Country Club Plaza. Because of the hilly terrain, each lot differs from its neighbor, resulting in unique designs and giving the neighborhood a mix of great architecture. No two homes are alike.

Camaraderie is typical among neighbors, and many of the neighborhood associations are quite active. For instance, Rockwell residents care for the islands in their streets, host picnics and have annual meetings.Located directly south of the Country Club Plaza, Sunset Hill is defined as the area from Ward Parkway to Wornall around 55th Street.

Price range: $400,000-$5.25 million. School district: KCMO

Union Hill
City living is at its best in this well-kept enclave in the burgeoning River Crown Plaza district. Union Hill is divided into two sections: older, single-family homes built around the turn of the century and newer loft and condo projects. Property values have increased and will continue to increase significantly in the next few years.

Seemingly untouched by time, the older Victorian homes feature much architectural detail with contrasting materials, decorative shingles, stained glass, carved stone, and a variety of window shapes and sizes. The area’s newcomers, including Gillham Row and The Founders at Union Hill, offer more contemporary features. Some older townhomes feature maintenance-provided amenities like lawn care.

Within a few blocks is the nightlife hot spot known as Martini Corner, but noise and parking are controlled, leaving the residential streets relatively quiet. The neighborhood association hosts occasional activities like a neighborhood cleanup twice a year and the annual garden tour, which brings about 500 people through the neighborhood on a single day.Union Hill is defined as the area from Main to Gillham Road and 31st Street to Union Cemetery

Price range: $90,000-$500,000. School district: KCMO

Waldo
Location, location, location. It’s the age-old realtor’s slogan, and it is often used to describe the Waldo area. The city neighborhood boasts convenience as one of its most attractive features.

Close proximity to shopping, dining and the Brookside area are a large part of Waldo’s appeal, but it is the close-knit community with a strong neighborhood association that keeps residents in the area.

Unique homes with aged trees add to the neighborhood’s charm. Most of the homes are two or three stories, but the ranch style also is mixed in. Resale values make living in Waldo a great investment.Waldo spans from Gregory Boulevard south to 91st Street and from Holmes west to State Line

Price range: $175,000-$375,000. School district: KCMO