27 WEEKLY 2026
APRIL
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B A L D W I N
C I T Y
VOL 4 NO. 15 FREE DIGITAL VERSION
N E W S P A P E R
PARADE OF HOMES BRINGS CROWDS,
SHOWCASES GROWTH ACROSS BALDWIN CITY AND BEYOND
The first weekend of the 2026 Spring Parade of Homes drew steady traffic across the region, with visitors touring newly built homes in Baldwin City, Lawrence and Eudora as part of a multi-weekend event highlighting local builders and housing trends. Hosted by the Lawrence Home Builders Association, the Parade of Homes officially opened April 25 and continues through May 10, offering free, self-guided tours of new construction homes each weekend. Homes were open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. during the first weekend locally, giving attendees the opportunity to walk through a variety of floor plans, finishes and price points without appointments. The event will continue next weekend with the same hours and access.
Baldwin City takes stage Baldwin City played a major role in this year’s tour, with seven featured stops concentrated primarily in the Bluestem Circle and Industrial Park Road areas. From entry-level builds to higher-end custom homes, the Baldwin lineup showcased a wide range of options: • Homes in Baldwin City ranged from approximately $409,900 to more than $520,000 Multiple properties featured threebedroom, two-bath layouts, openconcept living spaces and three-car garages • Several homes highlighted energy-efficient construction, vaulted ceilings, quartz countertops and custom cabinetry • New developments like Heritage Addition #2 offered buildready lots, emphasizing continued residential growth in the community Builders represented in Baldwin included a mix of local and regional companies, demonstrating continued investment in housing development and infrastructure
within the city. The concentration of homes in one area made Baldwin a convenient and appealing stop for visitors looking to tour multiple properties in a short amount of time. Regional event brings big numbers While Baldwin City’s presence was strong, the Parade of Homes spans a much larger footprint across northeast Kansas and the Kansas City metro. Across the broader Spring Parade of Homes event: • More than 300 homes are featured across multiple counties • Homes range widely in price, from about $300,000 to $3 million
• The event includes single-family homes, villas, townhomes and maintenance-provided options The event is one of the largest of its kind in the region and has been a longstanding tradition, offering residents a chance to explore current design trends, construction quality and neighborhood development. Trends and takeaways Visitors during the first weekend saw several consistent design trends across homes, including: • Open-concept layouts with large kitchen islands • Emphasis on natural light and outdoor living spaces • High-end finishes such as quartz countertops and custom woodwork • Functional additions like mudrooms, walk-in pantries and oversized garages The “scattered site” format — with homes spread across multiple communities rather than a single subdivision — encouraged visitors to explore different towns, bringing additional traffic into Baldwin City. Looking ahead to next weekend The Parade of Homes will continue next weekend, giving those who missed the opening days another opportunity to explore homes in Baldwin City and surrounding communities. With strong turnout during the first weekend and continued interest expected, organizers anticipate steady attendance as the event continues to highlight the region’s housing growth and the craftsmanship of local builders. For Baldwin City, the event serves as both a showcase of new housing opportunities and a reflection of the community’s continued expansion — one front door at a time.
CORRECTION! FRIENDS OF BALDWIN CITY LIBRARY PLANT SALE IS
MAY 1 & 2