Imagine living in new home communities where neighbors feel like family and there’s a deep-rooted sense of common values. Where the streets aren’t just filled with homes, but an environment where residents share, celebrate and create life-long memories and bonds.
For buyers looking to purchase or build in the western Johnson County suburbs of Lenexa and Shawnee, Rodrock Homes’ Gleason Glen and Hills of Forest Creek offer distinctive homes, home sites and amenities—and the opportunity to live in communities where your best friend just might be your next-door neighbor.
Gleason Glen
Gleason Glen personifies Rodrock’s philosophy of putting people first and creating homes with lasting value. Community manager and ReeceNichols real estate agent Judy Zimmerman likes the sense of community that attracts a diverse group of homebuyers, like young families and empty nesters.
“Gleason Glen feels like something you grew up in,” she said. “It combines affordable pricing, striking models with lovely décor, Rodrock’s unwavering standards and assets like our park and vicinity to excellent schools.”
Chris Schuler and his wife, Billie, discovered Gleason Glen when they became unexpected homebuyers after an early-morning fire on March 24, 2017, totally destroyed their Shawnee home. The Schuler family escaped harm but was suddenly thrust into an urgent house-hunting role. They loved living in Kansas City’s western suburbs—two of their children were attending schools in the acclaimed De Soto School District and they enjoyed the quieter lifestyle, away from the city, yet convenient to prime shopping, dining and entertainment.
“Billie and I knew we wanted to stay in the area, so focused our efforts on Shawnee and Lenexa,” Schuler said. “A week after the fire we came across Rodrock Home’s Gleason Glen. We were familiar with the Rodrock name and reputation and when we walked into one of the community’s move-in ready homes, the Destin 3.5, it felt like the perfect place to continue raising our family.”
The contemporary, open floor plan of the Destin 3.5 appealed to the couple, but they also liked the neighborhood. Gleason Glen is tucked away between 75th and 83rd Street, about one-half mile west off K-7 Highway. A treed park anchoring the community, outfitted with swing sets and benches, a community pool and a friendly atmosphere stood out to the Schuler’s as they toured Gleason Glen.
“There’s a certain charm about the neighborhood,” Schuler said. “It’s off the beaten path, yet everything we need is nearby. And it satisfies our top requirement—staying in the De Soto School District.
The Schuler’s made an offer the same day on their Rodrock Ready home and moved into Gleason Glen in May—just in time to welcome their third child. “Within a couple of weeks, it felt like home,” Schuler said.
Homes in Gleason Glen are priced from $350,000 to $490,000; current inventory includes a reverse 1.5-story Dillon ready for move-in and three two-story homes, representing the popular Irving and Weston plans, available within 45 days.
“Buyers can still make selections like carpet, hardwood stains, tile, granite and more,” said community manager and ReeceNichols real estate agent Anna Stasi. “When a buyer’s current home sells quickly—as it’s apt to do in this hot market—a newly completed home is a great option.”
Hills of Forest Creek
Located between Johnson Drive and Shawnee Mission Parkway, just west of Woodland Drive, Hills of Forest Creek is centrally located to major highways and has a unique outdoor feature.
“Our model homes showcase current trends, and we also have a bonus amenity: intra-community access to Clear Creek Trail, linking homeowners directly to one the city’s longest and most scenic trails, the 17-mile Mill Creek Streamway Trail,” said community manager and ReeceNichols agent Cindy Newson. “We’re also a short distance from Shawnee Mission Park.”
Demand is high for homes in the De Soto School District, especially those within the Mill Valley High School boundaries. The district changed some grade school boundaries that resulted in Hills of Forest Creek changing from Horizon to Clear Creek Elementary, allowing residents’ school-age children to access elementary, middle and high schools less than a mile from the community.
Hills of Forest Creek features three furnished models by Rodrock Homes, Bickimer Homes and Roeser Homes. “We have a wide variety of floor plans to accommodate different lifestyles,” Newson said. “Prices range from $396,500 to $480,000 and we currently have move-in ready and 30-day out homes, including Rodrock’s Weston plan, a former model equipped with all the bells and whistles of an exceptional showcase home, and move-in ready beauties by Bickimer and Roeser.”
Roeser Homes’ 3.5-story, four-bedroom Chloe, with a walk-out lower level, is situated on a cul-de-sac and move-in ready. The Fremont by Bickimer Homes is a two-story, four-bedroom home with a spacious, flat backyard, is also on a cul-de-sac and available for immediate purchase.
Other available homes in Hills of Forest Creek’s robust inventory by Rodrock Homes include a two-story Weston III, 30 days from completion; a two-story Lancaster III, move-in ready with a main level guest bedroom or office; a two-story Destin EX that backs to green space, 30 days out; a two-story, reverse-plan Carson, near completion that backs to the trail and greenspace. In the 30- to 60-day availability category, homebuyers can choose from two Irving II plans and a Destin EX with a main-level fifth bedroom or office, all situated on cul-de-sac home sites.
“Thirty-five attractive home sites remain for custom builds, with many enjoying greenspace or proximity to the trail,” Newson said. Like Gleason Glen, Hills of Forest Creek is experiencing brisk sales. “Now’s the perfect time to purchase a home, before the Spring Parade kicks off,” Newson said.
Get inspired today from noon – 5 p.m. Visit all the professionally decorated model homes in Gleason Glen and Hills of Forest Creek ahead of the Parade of Homes, when traffic is expected to be heavy. And if you can’t make it today, don’t worry—we’re open seven days a week.
