Diversity is the watchword for Jackson County, and nowhere is that more apparent than in its housing stock. From the majestic old homes of Hyde Park to the shiny new houses in Independence, Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs to a more rural lifestyle in Oak Grove and Grain Valley, the county has something for everyone.

For the growth years of the 1990s, Jackson County was considered an also-ran to Johnson County. New housing activity is slowing in Johnson County, however, where building permits dropped 6 percent in the first five months of 2002 compared to the same time period a year earlier. Activity in Jackson County remains strong on the other hand—for the first five months of 2002 versus 2001, permits rose 21 percent.

The reason for the change in trend is simple—in tough economic times, Jackson County provides more affordable alternatives. The average sale price for a new home in the county in May 2002 was $189,255. For Johnson County the average price was $267,772, and for all counties monitored by the Heartland Multiple Listing Service, the average new home cost $218,329. However, Jackson County new-home prices are up over 2001 whereas Johnson County and the region are down, reflecting the shift in demand to the east side of State Line.

"As a whole," says Tim Underwood, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, "Jackson County offers the most balanced range of housing choices in the metropolitan area, especially for entry-level and move-up homebuyers."

The Retail Market
It’s always been said that retail follows rooftops, and that has clearly been the case in Jackson County. As new housing construction has pushed east into "Eastern Jack," nationally anchored retail development has sprung up at Eastland Town Center near Independence Center and at SummitWoods Crossing at I-470 and 50 Highway. New retail is expected in Blue Springs as well, along I-70 at Adams Dairy Parkway and Woods Chapel Road and along highways 40 and 7.

Because so much of Jackson County has been around for so long, certain areas are going through their second generation of development. The Midtown Market Place replaced blocks of blight at Linwood and Main with a new Costco and Home Depot in 2001. The venerable Ward Parkway Shopping Center is getting a new lease on life with a Super Target to replace its defunct Montgomery Ward. And Bannister Mall, which has long struggled, is going a new direction with a Bass Pro Shop, a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. The location will re-identify itself as Three Trails Town Center.