Landscaping

Hallbrook Newsletter

Dear Neighbors,

We have heard your voices through the recent survey and we thank all who participated.  Your HOA Board and Sentry Management work diligently on your behalf. Here is what has been accomplished thus far in 2021.

Security:

  • Significant upgrades to our security cameras incorporating the latest in analytical software and remote video monitoring
  • Increased coordination with the Leawood Police Department
  • Continued communication and emphasis to our neighbors to be vigilant in protecting their property and reporting suspicious activity

Landscape and Maintenance:

  • Repair of our iconic fountain
  • Finished renovation of our 50 stone mailbox kiosks
  • Currently addressing concerns about the size of the landscape budget while trying to maintain the high standards our community expects. The magnitude of this task involves 23 acres of irrigated turf, 3 acres of irrigated planting beds, and 1,438 street trees. In addition to our landscape maintenance, Raintree also constantly monitors the condition of the fountain, mailboxes, guard house, cameras, light poles, monuments and street signs.

Budget and Policy:

  • Secured a reduction in HOA insurance premium while increasing coverage limits
  • Constant examination of the budget for reallocation of funds in response to recent survey results and avoidance of any dues increases
  • Instituted bi-weekly glass recycling
  • Updated the home rental policy limiting rentals to a minimum of 12 months
  • Worked closely with Sentry Management on best practices for the neighborhood and ensuring the financials are maintained with the approved budget

Communication:

  • Implementation of a text message system
  • Re-establishment of the HOA printed directory
  • Distribution/review of multiple surveys to increase neighborhood input
  • Increased frequency of neighborhood updates through the neighborhood’s official channels of communication: email, texting, the Hallbrook website and mail. The Hallbrook Facebook page is a privately administered account and not  an official means of communication.

Future Projects:

  • Exploring new roofing materials and continued improvement in Board communication

As a reminder, please email crainey@sentrymgt.com if you would like an additional recycling bin.

Thank you for your time and interest in the Hallbrook Homeowners Association.  We share a common goal in ensuring that Hallbrook is a neighborhood which is safe and well maintained.  We look forward to the Special Meeting on Tuesday, May 11th at 5:00 pm on Zoom.  An agenda has been mailed to all residents.  

Sincerely,
The Hallbrook Homeowners Association Board

Happenings at Hallbrook Farms

Message from the Board President:

Maintenance

  • There were 443 light poles and they were all painted in 2018 and 2019 to a new color.
  • There are 49 mailboxes, in 2019 one half have been replaced and the other half will be completed in 2020. All mailboxes need trim work around the boxes completed.  We are hoping to have this completed by April 2020.
  • We will be doing some electrical updates and pump valve replacements to the fountain this year.
  • All the monuments/stone walls have been assessed and will be reassessed after the winter. We will be doing some repairs this year while we are working on plans for the next 5-7 years.

Landscaping

  • Some of the renovations in 2019 included:
    • Blue Spruces at the State Line entry
    • Armour Maple at State Line and 119th
    • 6 islands
    • 5 noses of islands
  • Improvements scheduled for Spring 2020:
    • 7 Islands
    • 2 Small Islands
    • Miscellaneous landscaping where plants were lost or trees have declined

DRC (Design Review Committee)

Hallbrook requires that approval of the HOA be obtained prior to commencing certain activities, changes, modifications, and construction to your home.   Please contact Claire Rainey at crainey@sentrymgt.com or 913-749-5570 ext. 57811 for a DRC request form.

The committee has not found any suitable alternative roofs that would change the current restrictions.  The Declarations state that roofs shall be cedar shake, dimensional cedar wood shingles, slate, or tile.  No asphalt shingles are allowed.  However, during the investigation, there were some attractive slate and tile roof options that do conform with our documents which are TruSlate and the Terracotta. You may also obtain the form on the website at hallbrookfarms.org under Resident Resources

Please take note that written permission is required from the DRC before removing any trees 4” or over in caliper on resident’s property.

Updates and Reminders:

  • All types of political support can only be up 30 days prior to the elections and must be removed five days after the election.
  • All signs in residents’ yards by a third-party vendor, such as contractors, roofers, etc. are not allowed and must be removed.
  • Please have all the occupants of your residence slow down. The maximum speed limit in Hallbrook is 25 MPH.
  • To access the homeowner directory, please log into Sentry Management at sentrymgt.com and click My Account then click New User Registration to set up your online access. If you need your 16-digit code, please contact Claire Rainey, the administrative assistant for Hallbrook, at 913-749-5570 ext 57811, or by email at crainey@sentrymgt.com.

Information

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Shay Smith.

MEET THE BOARD AND MANAGEMENT

The Board has elected officers and we would like to introduce the Board and Management..

Craig Hamlin, President
Chucker Luetje, Treasurer
Andy Beal, Treasurer
Linda Finkle, Secretary
Joel Feigenbaum, Director
Shawn Moore, Director
Mary Larson, Director

Sentry Management Company
3401 College Boulevard, Suite 250
Leawood, KS 66211
913-749-5570

Jim Tiehen, Vice President
Shay Smith, Property Manger

HALLBROOK LANDSCAPE AND COMMON AREA SUMMARY 2018

ISLANDS

In the spring, 2018, the two entry islands at College Boulevard and Brookwood Avenue, as well as the first long island at the State Line entry were renovated.  Many of the original evergreens on these two islands were lost over the years and the remaining trees were past their useful life.

Members of the Landscape Committee worked this fall to identify which of the islands still needed to be renovated.  There are 33 islands to be updated for landscape renovation over the next three years.  The Committee has worked throughout the year to evaluate and prioritize the islands to be renovated in 2019 and this work will be refined throughout the fall and winter.  The islands are prioritized with the ones in the poorest condition having the highest priority.  The evaluation of the island includes the assessment of the original plant material, the overplanting of shrubs and trees in the original design, root girdling of trees, lifespan of trees, aesthetics and needed updates to a 30-year old landscape.  After the design and priority is finalized, Hallbrook will obtain competitive bids prior to spring 2019 so that plant material may be ordered and, weather permitting, be ready for installation in April.  The wholesale nursery industry has experienced a lot of consolidation and procuring plants and trees for the Hallbrook community continues to be challenging.  An extraordinary amount of time and effort is done during this process to continue to maintain Hallbrook as a premier community and to enhance home values.

TREES AT THE STATELINE ENTRANCE & STATELINE & 119TH 

The Committee has noticed a decline in the health of many spruces and some pines throughout the common area, and one particular example is the deterioration of one of the majestic blue spruce at the Stateline entry island. Initial evaluation of the tree indicates the presence of either the ips beetle or a canker, which likely cannot be treated and will eventually kill the tree.  These four spruce trees are now on a watch list for future replacement.

The amur maples located behind the Hallbrook sign wall at the northwest corner of 119th and Stateline are in severe decline and will need to be replaced.  The committee is finalizing the design and needed installation of a swale with a pipe for proper drainage behind the wall.

STREET TREES AND WATERING

It is anticipated that 24 street tree replacements will occur in 2019.  In an effort to assist in the survivability of the newly planted street trees, the committee has a plan, which, among other things, addresses timing of planting and watering.  In regards to watering, the plan is to utilize tree diapers at the time a new tree is planted.  These bladders are similar to the bags utilized throughout Johnson County where new trees are planted to help in the establishment of new trees. The bladders to be used are placed at the base of the trees and may be covered with mulch so they are not visible.  They will be filled with water weekly by Raintree and will stay in place for the first year during the establishment of any new street trees.   The bladder can be reused for any future tree replacements.

During the next three years, the street trees will be pruned to remove the dead wood, which will open canopies, help improve the shape of the trees and lengthen the trees’ lifespan.  There are approximately 1,438 street trees within Hallbrook, (exclusive of the villas and country club.)  In 2017 this process was started with the removal of deadwood from the pin oaks.

In May 2018, Ryan Lawn completed the scheduled treatment of the ash trees.  Per the Hallbrook plan regarding the emerald ash borer (EAB) treatment, certain ash trees with health and structural issues are not treated for EAB. Replacement of those ash trees as they die due to age or damage continues as part of the street tree replacement program.

BERM – TREES, EROSION AND PLANTINGS

Bermudagrass had infiltrated the berm over the last few years and an eradication was completed in August and September.  Where the bermudagrass was removed, turf-type fescue is being established via new seeding.  The reestablishment of the turf and ground cover areas will continue for the next couple of years in an effort to control the erosion and provide a vegetative cover for the bare dirt areas on the berm.

The newer trees and shrubs on the berm continue to thrive and Hallbrook and passersby enjoyed the beautiful blossoms of some of the trees and plantings during this past spring and summer.

The committee does continual assessments of the plantings on the berm.  Many of the original trees are in decline and it is projected that in the next three to five years, 88 trees will need to be removed and replaced.

RESIDENT LANDSCAPE OVERHANG

It would be helpful if all residents checked their trees and shrubs for overhang into the right of way and sidewalks. The overhang impediments negatively impacts walkers, runners and visitors.   If your trees or shrubs overhang or obstruct the sidewalks, please prune back or remove, as appropriate.  Your attention to this issue is very much appreciated.

SEASONAL COLOR

Fall planting of the pots around the circle and the pots located at two of the entrances occurred the week of October 22nd to add interest to the common area as we move into the fall and winter months. The landscape committee will work through the upcoming months to compile the palette and plantings for the seasonal color for spring and summer 2019.  We are optimistic that the weather in 2019 will cooperate so that the color from the annuals will continue to be a wonderful addition to the boulevards and help make Hallbrook an exciting and special neighborhood.

PLANT HEALTH

While the Japanese beetle appeared to be worse this past summer, the common area experienced only minor damage with the exception of the linden trees, which had noticeable late season foliage damage visible to the canopies.  Hallbrook has also been treating for the sawfly on the moneywort ground cover (aka creeping jenny).

The severe cold temperatures last winter and the drought took a toll on some of the shrubs and plantings within our community.  In particular, some of the roses, caryopteris, and butterfly bush did not survive the winter and those that did, were slow to take off this last spring and summer.  Any lost plantings will be replaced in 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

LANDSCAPE AND COMMON AREA SUMMARY 2017

ISLANDS

The Hallbrook Landscape Committee renovated ten (10) islands this Spring, along with the Stateline entrance and the 119th entrance.  Additionally, some minor work was also done on the College Boulevard entrance.  This Fall three (3) additional islands are being renovated with the work anticipated to be completed in mid-October.  Members of the Landscape Committee will work through the Fall and Winter months to evaluate the islands and identify the islands to be renovated for 2018.  To that end, the committee will prepare plant and tree combination with the goal of obtaining competitive bids prior to Spring 2018 so that plant material may be ordered and ready for installation in April.  There has been a lot of consolidation in the wholesale nursery industry and procuring plants and trees for the Hallbrook Community has been challenging.

The islands are prioritized based on the ones in most need of attention, health and structure of existing trees which in many cases are at the end of their useful life and the long-range plan to update all of the landscape islands within the development.  This process will continue until all of the remaining landscape islands have been updated.  An extraordinary amount of time and effort is done during this process to continue maintaining Hallbrook as a premier community and to enhance home values.  Additional items assessed include tree crowding, original over planting, root girdling, life span of the tree, aesthetics and needed updates to a twenty-five-year-old landscape.

STREET TREE PRUNING COMPLETED

During the winter months in early 2017, the street trees were pruned in Phases I, II, III, IV & V of Hallbrook (see site plan on the Hallbrook website or also available at The Tiehen offices).   884 street trees were pruned to raise their canopy and remove the sucker growth.  All of the dead wood was removed from the Pin Oak trees located near Manor south along 118th Terrace where 32 Oaks were cleaned of all dead wood and canopies raised away from street lights, drives, and walks. These are the oldest street trees in the development and the results gave an attractive and fresh restoration to the neighborhood. In the same neighborhood, it is worth noting that one of the islands, which was in full shade due to the overplanting of trees 25 years ago, also received some much-needed attention.  The monuments were in poor condition and the grass was nonexistent.  The stonework was repaired and cleaned, and trees were removed, which had health or structural issues.  The remaining trees were thinned and shaped.  New topsoil and grass seed was planted to cover the bare areas and new landscape was installed during the Spring 2017 renovation.

In the early winter months of 2018, the street trees for Phase VI & VIII will be pruned and deadwood removed.

ASH TREES – EAB & REPLACEMENT TREES

In August 2017, Ryan Lawn completed the scheduled treatment of the ash trees.  Per the Hallbrook plan regarding the emerald ash borer (EAB) treatment, certain ash trees with health and structural issues are not treated for EAB. Replacement of those ash trees as they die due to age or damage continues.   Currently, an inventory of proposed replacements for Fall 2017 is being prepared for bid.  Additionally, the structure and health of the ash trees around the circle have deteriorated and those trees will be replaced in Spring 2018.

 BERM EROSION AND PLANTINGS

 The new trees and shrubs on the berm continue to thrive and we experienced the beautiful blossoms of the some of the trees and plantings during the Spring and Summer.  The berm is getting the ground plane reestablished with grass seed and sod, as well as groundcover plantings where there is too much shade for grass to grow.  This effort will continue for the next couple of years until the groundcover areas are established.

SEASONAL COLOR

Fall planting of the pots around the circle and the pots located at two of the entrances will occur the week of October 16th to add interest to the common area as we move into the Fall and Winter months. The landscape committee will work through the Fall and Winter to compile the palette and plantings for the seasonal color for Spring and Summer 2018.  With the luck of the weather this last Summer and the plant selection, the color from the annuals brought a wonderful addition to the boulevards and helped make Hallbrook an exciting and special neighborhood to visit and live.

OTHER COMMON AREAS

The new landscape plantings in 2014 along Brookwood and Overbrook continued to fill in this Summer.  The structure and shape of the shrubs are starting to flourish to their full potential with a more uniform appearance and consistent massing from island to island.  The understory plantings add a variety of color and texture.     Overall maintenance is ongoing as well as an assessment for maintenance of the 34 monuments and walls, 60 stone mailboxes, 6 security cameras, 444 light poles, the guard house and the fountain. While the Japanese beetle appeared to be worse this past Summer, the common area experienced only minor damage with the exception of the Linden trees, which had noticeable late season foliage damage visible to the canopies.  Hallbrook has also been treating for the sawfly on the moneywort ground cover (aka creeping jenny).

RESIDENT LANDSCAPE OVERHANG

It would be helpful if all residents checked their trees and shrubs for overhang into the right of way and sidewalks.  If your trees or shrubs overhang or obstruct the sidewalks, please pruned back appropriately.  Your attention to this is very much appreciated.

HALLBROOK SPRING 2016 UPDATES

ISLAND LANDSCAPE RENOVATION UPDATE

The Hallbrook Landscape Committee continued their work for renovation of the islands not completed in 2014 and 2015.  The Committee identified 15-17 islands for renovation and has prepared detailed designs to be completed this Spring.  As part of the process, the Committee met several times since October, 2015 and made numerous site visits to assess the issues and needs of each island and prioritized them based on need, as well as overall health and structure of existing trees and shrubs.   The Committee includes Kim Sorensen, Landscape Architect with Olsson Associates (formerly, Ochsner Hare & Hare) and Robyn Schmitz, owner and horticulturist at High Prairie Landscape Group, Carol Gurba (resident), Tina Bender (resident) and Chi Chi Puhl (Chair & resident).    This process will continue for the next 3 years until all of the remaining landscape islands have been updated.  An extraordinary amount of time and effort was put into the renovation design over the Fall and Winter months with the goal set on identifying needed landscaping in Hallbrook for it to remain a premier community and to enhance home values.  Additional items assessed include tree crowding, original over planting, root girdling, life span of tree, aesthetics and needed updates to a twenty-five-year-old landscape.

All of the proposed work for the islands to be renovated in Spring, 2016 was sent out for competitive bids, and the work will begin in the next few weeks and completed by the second or third week of June, 2016.   While too voluminous to include in this newsletter, there is a complete set of plans for the island renovations for the Spring, 2016 available in the office of The Tiehen Group if you desire to review them. The HOA continues to work diligently and prudently to bring high-quality and exciting updates to our aging community to ensure that our subdivision provides the highest standards and that necessary changes are implemented keeping the best long-term interests of the neighborhood in mind.

STREET TREES

Replacement of street trees continues as they die due to age or damage.   Currently, 29 street trees were replaced during the early Spring.  The new street trees require supplemental watering after they are planted.  If you as a homeowner received a new tree this Spring, we would ask that you water your new tree.  To promote the overall health of the tree, this needs to be done weekly with a hose at the base of the tree, set to a trickle. The stream of water should be less than the width of a pencil and should run for thirty minutes to an hour or until the ground around the tree can’t absorb the water and its run off, if you have more than one new tree, move to the next tree and repeat the process. When all the trees have been watered repeat the process again for each tree to ensure that the water penetrated deep enough.  The recommended amount of water is twenty gallons per week per tree. The water from your irrigation system will not be sufficient to promote the root growth needed for the overall health of the tree and why we are recommending the supplemental watering.

If for some reason you are not able to water the tree, please contact the Tiehen Group so that we can ensure that the trees are properly watered.  Hallbrook is diversifying the tree selections in an effort to maintain the quality of trees within the development and ensure future years of survival.  The replacement plan and tree selections may be viewed on the Hallbrook website, http://www.hallbrookfarms.org.  Additionally, please do not create a ‘Mulch Volcano’ around any of the street trees, which can severely damage or kill the tree.  Make sure there are several inches between the trunk of the tree and the beginning of the mulch circle.

BERM EROSION AND PLANTINGS

The new trees and shrubs on the berm continue to thrive and blossom and the ornamentals made an impressive show with their Spring blooms.  Currently, the berm is getting the ground plane reestablished with new areas of seed, sod and groundcover plantings which continues to be added where there is too much shade for grass to grow.  This effort is underway to help stop the erosion of soil from the berm and to decrease the areas of bare dirt.  This is a work in progress and will take a season or two to establish.  We are continuing to establish the lush areas of lawn with seed and sod and introduce groundcover as understory in areas of deep shade.

PANSIES ARE HERE AND ANNUALS WILL FOLLOW

The planting of the spring pansies is complete and the annuals will follow in mid-May.  The beautiful purple, blue and yellow pansies planted for early Spring color will be maintained until it gets too hot and then summer heat-tolerant annuals with tons of color impact will be planted for the Summer months.   The pots will continue to have a stimulating flower display to maintain excitement around the fountain area and entries.  The design team has put together an outstanding design for the subdivision and the color will be a wonderful addition to the boulevards.  We are very excited about the introduction of color to the neighborhood and anticipate another wonderful year of bright beautiful flowers for all to enjoy.

ASH TREES – EMERALD ASH BORERS

Hallbrook has treated the first half of the Ash trees for Emerald Ash Borers and the remaining Ash trees scheduled for treatment will be treated once the Ash trees have leafed out in May, 2016.    As previously reported, Hallbrook has 444 ash trees.  All of the ash trees have been analyzed by third party arborists for structure and overall health, and have been tagged to help Hallbrook manage the Ash tree inventory.  Hallbrook will not treat the poorest rated Ash trees of which there are approximately 75, leaving 369 Ash trees to treat.  The eventual replacement of the poorly rated trees will be scheduled over a three-year plan.

OTHER COMMON AREAS

The landscape planted in 2014 along Brookwood and Overbrook will continue to fill in this Summer.  The shrubs have been recently shaped to establish a more uniform appearance and consistent massing from island to island.  The understory plantings continue to add a variety of color and texture.  These new plantings will take at least one more year to establish and flourish to their full potential.  Overall maintenance is ongoing to maintain Hallbrook’s 93 islands, 34 monuments and walls, 60 stone mailboxes, 6 security cameras, 444 light poles, the guard house and the fountain.

LIGHT POLES – LED

The work to change the current lighting in the light poles to LED has begun and is due to be completed in June, 2016.  Please drive cautiously when approaching the workers and equipment performing this work.

EMAIL ADDRESSES & COMMUNICATION

A reminder that communication with residents will primarily be done by email and the Hallbrook website at http://www.hallbrookfarms.org.  If Hallbrook does not have your current email address, please contact Kristen Cheek at Kristen@tiehengroup.com or 913 648 1188, Ext 20.

SLOW DOWN/SPEED LIMIT

Please have all the occupants of your residence slow down.  The maximum speed limit in Hallbrook is 25 MPH.

Jim Tiehen
The Tiehen Group, Inc.
3401 College Boulevard #250
Leawood, KS 66211

 

 

Renovation Landscape Update

Below is an update on the recent renovations in the main median islands and berm.

LANDSCAPE UPDATE

The renovations for the median islands along Brookwood and Overbrook and the berm occurred over the Summer.  New nose island plantings were installed during the month of June and beginning of July along Brookwood and Overbrook.  The berm received new pockets of plants both in the Fall, 2013 and Spring, 2014 with plant installations up through mid-July.  The Summer was an unusual one for the weather which has been a blessing and a curse for the new landscape.  The cool weather kept the theme shrubs from blooming along Brookwood and the large tree installation along the berm took its toll on the existing grass.  The landscape is in a state of flux and will continue to improve as time allows.  The new plantings will take 3 years to establish and flourish. The shrubs and perennials will continue to fill in and acclimate to their new location.  As they fill in and acclimate, they will also begin to flower consistently.  Below are specific descriptions of the new landscape along Brookwood, Overbrook and the berm.  The renovation will continue through Spring of next year.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN ALONG BROOKWOOD

The hypericum (St. John’s Wort, Sunburst) is planted in an “S” shape and will provide a blue green color throughout the season and yellow flowers in Summer that appear to be a sunburst, hence its name.  The swoop of the juniper will provide the soft texture change and year-round interest.  Annual displays will continue to evolve each season and will add the pop of color during the Summer.  The liriope border is the unifying theme that is repeated throughout that ties the landscape together along Brookwood.

The fountain area is the center focal point for the development.  The new wall plantings of boxwood and Forest Pansy Redbud with liriope in front of the walls provide framework to the stone walls and allow for the stone to be appropriately featured as originally intended.   New benches and stone urns add interest to the center fountain island.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN ALONG OVERBROOK

Median island nose plantings along Overbrook provide a backdrop to the perennial plantings at the nose tips.  The colors harmonize with the flowering Big Bang Spirea which is the theme shrub planted in an ”S” shape along Overbrook.   The Big Bang Spirea is the largest, most showy blooming spirea available today.  This spirea has been genetically improved over the traditional spirea and will provide multi-season interest with red new growth in Spring, huge pink flowers throughout the Summer and red and orange color in the Fall.  The juniper groupings provide the light feathery texture and Winter interest and the planting is framed with liriope.

New understory plantings of groundcover add a pop of whimsy to the pattern along Brookwood and Overbrook.  This addition replaces the juniper beds that had died because of age and shade.  These new plantings are clean and future maintenance will be reduced without needing to prune the aged junipers.

BERM RENOVATION

This has been an ongoing challenge as the berm is where the majority of the Imprelis damage took its toll.  The new landscape has been interspersed throughout the existing plantings along the berm.  The introduction of new ridge plantings along the top of the berm with evergreens and then a middle zone of flowering shrubs and ornamental trees can be seen as one approaches from the west along 119th Street.  This pattern will be extended the entire length of the berm and will add the screening that was beginning to be lost with the age and deterioration of the existing evergreens, both from the Imprelis damage and the deteriorated utility of the trees due to age.

The evergreens that were removed from the berm were replanted in areas of open zones so that the new plantings had the necessary sunlight that was needed to grow.  The new trees will take 3 to 5 years to re-establish and grow.

The flowering ornamentals that once graced the berm were at the end of their life span and have been replanted with new flowering trees to continue the Spring flowering and seasonal interest.

Shrub plantings were a new addition to the berm to provide more seasonal interest.  It will take 3 years for the new shrubs to reach their mature size.

As each area of the berm is replanted, the turf areas can be restored once appropriate trees have been removed and new trees added to the ridge line of the berm.  In some areas where there is bare dirt now and existing trees with no sunlight, groundcover will be added to stop the erosion.

The State Line berm has been planted in pockets where holes were visible and homes were losing their screening.  Additional plantings will be added to fill gaps along State Line next Spring.

Homeowners along the berm have been encouraged to add plants along their rear property line so that there is double screening along 119th Street and State Line.

Your renovation team is working hard to keep Hallbrook a premier property in the Kansas City Metropolitan area.  We’re excited about the changes and look forward to watching the transformation take place as the plants mature to show off the neighborhood to its full potential and glory.

Jim Tiehen
The Tiehen Group, Inc.
3401 College Boulevard #250
Leawood, KS  66211

Hallbrook Renovation Update

Hallbrook Residents,

We wanted to give you an update with regard to the renovation of the common areas. We have made substantial progress. We still have much to accomplish.

Work is continuing on the following areas for installation this Spring:

The Brookwood Islands
The Overbrook Islands
Circle/Fountain
The Berms and Entrances
The Summer Annuals (To be installed at the Island noses/tips as installation is completed)
Street Trees

Some of the installations have been delayed due to weather and limited availability of certain plantings. We are still optimistic that the foregoing areas will be installed before the weather turns too hot for prudent planting. The Design Renovation Committee have been working tirelessly to ensure the execution of the design plan. The Team has done and continues to do a fabulous job and we owe them our many thanks.

Richa Saha – Board Member – Chair
Kim Sorenson – Ochsner Hare & Hare
Robyn Schmitz – High Prairie
David Stolberg – Raintree Lawn & Irrigation
Chi Chi Puhl – Board Member

We have received numerous favorable and appreciative comments from the residents and outside visitors. We believe the improvement have a positive impact on the Hallbrook community as a whole, and also will help improve home values, which are still struggling from the real estate downturn experienced over the past few years.

We believe the overall design and renovations creates an excitement in Hallbrook. We have observed that some of you have caught the fever with lots of activity at some of your homes with spruce up/clean up projects. Any landscaping projects you have for review and approval of the Design Review Committee, please know that we will work with you to get your home and surrounding area updated as quickly as possible. We are thrilled to see the activity. Catch the fever!

Thank you.

Jim Tiehen
The Tiehen Group

Common Area Renovations

Hallbrook was impacted by the application of Imprelis, a herbicide manufactured by DuPont, to the common areas, and as a consequence over 650 of our trees were damaged. As a follow-up to the presentation at the Annual Homes Association meeting last Fall, the exciting renovations to the common areas are continuing. As you may recall, some of the plantings associated with the renovation commenced on the berm last Fall; and the planned renovations will continue on the berm in Spring 2014, as well as renovations at the circle/ fountain area, the islands along Brookwood Ave. and, potentially, other common areas depending on the weather.

Your Design Renovation Committee has been diligently working to expedite implementation of the overall design and plan over the next planting seasons, including Spring and Fall 2014 and 2015. The members of the Design Renovation Committee are listed here.

As you drive through the neighborhood and particularly around the current areas where work is being done, please slow down so that the installation can be completed safely.

Again, we believe the renovations will energize the neighborhood and create excitement in our subdivision to help keep Hallbrook one of the premier properties in the Midwest.

Berm Updates

Emerald Ash Borer

emeraldashborerHallbrook is monitoring trees that may have been affected by Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which is an invasive, non-native insect that feeds on Ash Trees, and ultimately causes them to die. The beetle is metallic green in color and approximately one half-inch in length. Hallbrook is currently working on a plan to deal with its 400+ Ash Trees in the common areas.

Hallbrook’s approach is consistent with the City of Leawood’s EAB plan. Please see this link for more information.