we are making a difference

I'm often asked, by those with signs in their yards, if we're making a difference. I received an email this week and I'd like to share it with you here:

I wanted to write and commend you for the work you are doing to save the character and charm of Old Leawood. We were driving through the area last Saturday as we are thinking of purchasing a house there. We went down one street and I saw this huge new house on a small lot and I thought "Oh no, they're tearing down the ranch houses and putting in houses like you would see in South JoCo." Then we started noticing the yard signs about preserving Old Leawood. We weren't exactly sure what they were about so we can home and looked it up on the internet. I was pleasantly surprised to find your site.

I hope your work and those of your neighbors will put a stop to the developers wanting to build homes that are so out of place. We love the area and hope to become part of the neighborhood in the near future. Good luck to you on your fight to save Old Leawood.

Patti Mason

Thank you Patti Mason for your kind email and thank you to all of those that have been a huge part of this experience.

People do look to Old Leawood for charm and character. Let's not disappoint them by destroying the character of this beautiful area.

Leawood is a tree city

Did you know that Leawood is considered a Tree City?

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, Leawood is listed as a Tree City.

This means that we plant, nurture and celebrate our trees. There are also other benefits to being a Tree City. So why is it ok that we allow these builders to tear down the trees?

Are you a builder ? Or do you plan to remodel? Did you know that the Arbor Day Foundation has information about building with trees? They even have 7 tips to help you successfully build with trees.

Some great information can be found at the Arbor Day Foundation site....in case you didn't know.

trees benefit everyone

I often hear from builders and people that put on additions "the trees are going to have to go to make way for the house". I say, create a smaller house and keep the trees....call me a tree hugger, I've been called worse.

Trees, especially these large 50 year old Oak trees provide countless benefits. If you're unsure of the benefits that trees give to us check out what the Heartland Tree Alliance says about tree benefits.

Center for Urban Forest Research is also a good source. As well as Tree Link.

If the trees in our neighborhood are a big concern to you (they should be to all of us) and you are looking for a way to get involved please contact me at www.traybella@hotmail.com

poll results

Thank you to the 61 people that chose to vote on the poll I had running regarding what concerned you most about teardowns and rebuilding in Old Leawood. I wanted to get a feel for what mattered most and the results are:

Size and scale: 55%
Community Character: 63%
Effects on the Environment: 26%
and
22% of those voted don't care, they think it will happen regardless.

People were able to vote for more than one concern which is why the total %'s are more than 100.

Thank you for your imput.

more yard signs

More yard signs have arrived!

If you would like to show your support by having a sign in your yard please contact me at www.traybella@hotmail.com and I'll be sure and get a sign in your yard.

Thank you to those who currently have signs in their yards. Your support has been great and it's obvious that people do care about the future of Old Leawood.

guidelines meeting

Yellow post cards were mailed out this week announcing the Architectural Guidelines Meeting.

The post card reads WEDNESDAY, MAY 20.

The meeting is actually on TUESDAY, MAY 20. 7 p.m. at Meadowbrook Country Club.

leawood is on the map

Anyone that can see or hear can tell that Old Leawood is a neighborhood experincing teardowns.

Things like dumpsters, dump trucks, cement mixers and johhny on the spots temporarily cluttering up our views. The beep, beep, beep of bulldozers at 7:00am (on the dot!) wake us and remind us that this isn't just some bad dream. It is real. And on most days it is real annoying.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Leawood, Mission Hills, Prairie Village and Roeland Park are all on the map for being neighborhoods experiencing teardowns. I would typically love seeing "Leawood" in print and especially being known for something nationally. But being on this list, in my opinion, isn't a good thing.

I often hear people say about teardowns in Old Leawood that "it has happened in Mission Hills, Fairway, Prairie Village blah blah blah....." Oh, by all means then let's jump on the the same trend??! And because other neighborhoods have gone before us, does that some how make it right??!

Those that care about this neighborhood can see where I'm coming from. For those that are in it because their financial well being depends on it see it from a different point of view. Like them or not, ranch houses are a part of American history. The fact that people just tear them down to make way for a south JOCO house is ridiculous. Build with character, don't overbuild, and please don't take away all of the green space and trees that this neighborhood is known for.

There has to be some happy medium out there. A balance of some sort. But what is it? Your comments are welcome.