Lakeview Terrace

Set just two miles from the border between Kansas and Missouri, Lakeview Terrace is a tiny community known for its homes’ price points and proximity to Kansas City.

The streets of Lakeview Terrace are neatly planned, with a neighborhood parsed into two primary areas. On the east side is a collection of modestly sized mobile homes, each featuring space for a car. These slender units are located just off Highway 169. A set of cul de sacs with four square homes sits on the west side. Attached garages and full driveways are standard, as are yards uniform in both size and spacing. “It’s a good little community,” says Broker Jennifer Edlin of The Edlin Team. “The price point is great for first-time home buyers.” Homes in this area fetch between $330,000 and $450,000.

Kids in Lakeview Terrace attend West Englewood Elementary, which is at the geographical center of the community and is Niche-rated a B-plus overall. The school participates in the Missouri Course Access Program, offering virtual courses 24/7 to maximize schedule flexibility. According to Niche, Northgate Middle and Kansas City High are the #1 most diverse public middle and high schools in the state, respectively, and are a B or better.

Just a short bike ride west sits Frank Vaydik Park, a quick retreat after a long weekday. Named after the former Superintendent of Parks of Kansas City, this spot features improvements made like football and soccer fields. Kids can hop on the miniature railroad’s train, originally built in 1985, for a unique cruise through the park. Unlike most parks closing at dark, this one stays open until midnight. If you want to start a morning walking routine, the Line Creek Trail is a great spot to get started. The trail cuts north through Barry Harbour and south towards Northmoor.

Everyone looks forward to the weekend, and the Line Creek Community Center is Frank Vaydik Park’s hub for locals to get active and socially engaged. The indoor ice rink hosts a bunch of programs like the adult hockey league and freestyle ice skating. If you want to get your feet wet, they offer affordable day passes and skate rentals, so those without skates aren’t excluded. The Center also has a LiveBarn feature where they hold events and live stream them if you’d rather spend the night in.

For a drink after work, the sports bar Side Pockets has a casual atmosphere of beer buckets and billiards. The restaurant options are plentiful if you make the short hop down to Kansas City. For a quick bowl of noodles, Nguyen Pho & Grill has fast service and is conveniently located on the corner of 5th and Grand. Garozzo’s Downtown is an excellent sit-down Italian restaurant featuring an extensive wine rack and a dimly lit, intimate dining ambiance. You can't miss with a menu as long as your arm, be it Fettucine Alfredo or Linguine Frutti Di Mare.

Shopping is conveniently placed just on the other side of Highway 169. “Lakeview Terrace is literally five to ten minutes away from everything with easy highway access,” says Edlin. Price Chopper has your grocery basics and pharmaceutical needs covered, and you can grab some bubble tea or a Chipotle burrito in the same retail strip. Head south along Oak Trafficway and you’ll see the local Sam’s Club, if you’re more of a bulk shopper. Take your pick between the Lowe’s and Home Depot just two miles down the interstate for that DIY project you've procrastinated on and finally want to finish.

“You really can’t go wrong with any location in Northland,” says Edlin. With so much to do just a short drive away and homes reasonably priced, Lakeview Terrace is an excellent community in which to settle down if central Kansas City isn’t your speed.

Written By

Malcolm Longerbeam

Photography Contributed By

Dennis Gray

Video By

Zack Kojoyian