Property Profiles
Home in the City
Holiday Luxury single-family homes perched on a hill share driveways -- but an unbeatable view -- at Cresta Bella

Developers Chris and Andrew Wilson are bringing something unique and different to the exploding growth of residential development near the city’s central core.

Cresta Bella offers an exclusive opportunity to own an upscale, single-family, detached home with all the latest amenities in the neighborhood closest to downtown Kansas City. Prior to this initiative, the Wilsons developed the Belleview Plaza Condominiums at 16th Street and Madison.

Doing business as Wilson Development Group, the Wilsons selected a site at 17th and Jefferson Streets in the city’s West Side neighborhood, near the popular Crossroads Arts District south of downtown, on which to build some exclusive private homes. The property is located on a hill and was chosen for its magnificent views of downtown Kansas City. Cresta Bella will be comprised of only eight freestanding upper-end homes, designed to have the look and feel of turn-of-the-century brownstone dwellings.

“It’s geared for those who want the benefits of downtown living but in a detached, luxury home of their own,” says John Edwards of Prudential Kansas City Realty, the exclusive marketer for Cresta Bella. “It’s a first of its kind.” Edwards is serving as lead sales agent for the project, assisted by Realtors Cindy Hitchcock and Bet Nigro.

Architect Craig Shaw of Shaw Hofstra + Associates designed the homes of Cresta Bella as four-story floor plans with a minimum of 4,000 square feet of interior living space. Each home will have a walk-out lower level with a two- or three-car garage, additional storage, and space for a family, media or billiards room.
The second level is dedicated to family living space with a great room, a kitchen, a formal dining room, a bedroom and a den. The owner’s suite is located on the third level along with other bedrooms and bathrooms. The fourth, upper level contains a partially covered rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace.

All homes will have elevators installed and plenty of glass and east-facing outdoor balconies on every level so that residents can enjoy the outstanding cityscape views. Each Cresta Bella home also will have a private driveway between the homes and an alarm system with video monitoring.

Cresta Bella’s homes will be constructed of stucco and stone with copper gutters, slate roofs and extensive use of wrought iron, making the exteriors virtually maintenance-free. In fact, the whole development will be a maintenance-provided, gated community when complete. Maintenance fees have not yet been finalized but are expected to be about $300 a month, according to Edwards.

Interiors can be completely customized to suit the buyer’s needs and preferences, according to Cindy Hitchcock. “(The Wilsons) do beautiful work … the best finishes, the best cabinetry. Cresta Bella offers the highest quality construction and finishes,” she says.

Homes are expected to be priced starting between $1.2 and $1.4 million and will go higher depending on the custom finishes. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in October with Mayor Kay Barnes attending; construction on a model home began in November.

Although located in an urban setting, Cresta Bella homeowners will enjoy ample green space. Lots are sized 125 feet deep and about 57 feet across. The developer will plant trees and all the utilities have been buried. Lots have been designed to accommodate a hot tub or lap pool.

Cresta Bella’s location south of downtown, north of Crown Center and just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Crossroads Arts District ensures that its residents will enjoy and benefit from many shopping, dining and entertainment venues. According to its marketing brochure, Cresta Bella homeowners will be close enough to feel “the heartbeat of the city” while still having a luxurious and private place to unwind.

A showroom exists on site at 1745 Jefferson Street and is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday or other times by appointment. More information at crestabellakc.com, or by calling 816/221-VIEW.