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Matt Derrick
HBA
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New Choices, Destinations Energize Downtown Housing

Imagine walking out the front door on a Kansas City summer evening and strolling down the street for dinner with friends followed by a concert and drinks on the town before walking back home again at the end of the night.

Until now, imaging that was the only thing one could do. An influx of new housing choices and an exciting lineup of dazzling new amenities rivaling some of the best cities in America are making that vision a reality, fulfilling the promise of urban living in Kansas City.

Living downtown is nothing new. Some of Kansas City’s most historic and treasured neighborhoods are located in the shadows of downtown’s skyscrapers. More than 16,000 people now live inside the downtown loop and some of the region’s fastest-growing and vibrant neighborhoods are urban communities on the Country Club Plaza, in Kansas City, Kan., and just north of the river.

What is new are the myriad of housing choices now available and the exciting and luxurious destinations that downtown has to offer. Downtown Kansas City is already home to more than 200 restaurants, 30 night clubs, 60 art galleries, 170 boutique shops and 120 neighborhood services. The additions of the Sprint Center and the Power & Light Entertainment District will add further allure and prestige to urban living while complementing existing destinations reaching from the River Market and the Jazz District to Crown Center and the Plaza.

The restoration and revitalization of Downtown Kansas City has also helped spark resurgence in new housing choices in the area. Examples of some of the premier urban living destinations are featured on this year’s Parade of Homes, which opens Sept. 16 and continues through Sept. 30. The parade highlights 14 different housing options in a dozen communities and neighborhoods, stretching from the traditional design neighborhoods of North Kansas City and Rosedale in Wyandotte County to the gleaming high-rise towers in downtown.

Homes for every lifestyle are a key appeal of urban living, with homes on this year’s parade ranging from around $150,000 to more than $1 million and comprising a mix of styles that include luxurious detail, cutting-edge design, picturesque views and outdoor living spaces. Today’s urban lifestyle offers new-home buyers choices that a short time ago could only be imagined in Kansas City.

The Urban Living entries on the 2007 Parade of Homes are among the 638 locations featured on this year’s parade. The annual two-week event is one of the most popular home-buying resources for local consumers, with homes open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more information on this year’s parade, visit the event online at www.kcparadeofhomes.com.

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