ROELAND PARK, Kan. -- Roeland Park real estate is experiencing a boom.
“A little bit lower price points real estate wise, a lot of first time home buyers coming into the area here,” said Mike Murphy, who has lived in Roeland Park for two decades.
Murphy said more and more people are buying the older homes in his neighborhood just to have them torn down to build something bigger and better.
A new house a few doors down from Murphy is almost complete.
“It stands out. It’s a little big,” said Murphy. “Of course, the front part is quite a bit bigger.”
Murphy said the size of the new home has him concerned with the feel of the neighborhood.
“There are concerns related to that it looks very tall and it doesn't quite exactly match the mid-century ranches that are already here,” said Murphy.
He also said a neighbor that lives next to the new construction has voiced concern about storm water runoff.
Right now, Roeland Park City Council members are proposing restrictions on new builds and storm water runoff is a top concern.
Also on their list: The changing aesthetic of the neighborhood.
A few blocks over, two lots have been turned into three.
“As you turn the corner you have three beautiful homes,” said Larry Smith, who lives next door to the new construction.
Smith said he loves the new houses, noting that the lot had one small, run down house before the change.
Smith also said he doesn’t think there needs to be any restriction on the new builds.
“I like it. You’ve got new families, new school here, and new revenue. You can walk to the drug store, you can walk to Price Chopper,” said Smith.
Much like the people that live in Roeland Park, city council members are split on the idea of adding restrictions.
We reached out to city council members that proposed the restrictions and are waiting to hear back.
Prairie Village and Fairway, Kansas have also implemented similar restrictions on new home builds.
The city administrator of Prairie Village said the restrictions have been met with mixed reviews from residents.
