John Knox Village Announces Major $220 Million Redevelopment Initiative

John Knox Village, one of the region’s largest and most comprehensive senior living communities, has announced a major reinvestment in its campus—an estimated $220 million redevelopment that will reshape 25 acres on the northwest side of the Village over the next five to ten years.

The plan represents the next chapter in the Village’s decade-long effort to modernize its 55‑year‑old campus and meet the evolving needs of today’s and tomorrow’s seniors.

“Guided by our mission, we are working on a bold and creative long-term plan to connect neighborhoods, neighbors, friends and families in meaningful ways,” said Anthony Columbatto, President and CEO of John Knox Village. “This redevelopment ensures the Village will remain a leading provider of care, services and lifestyle options for decades to come.”

Transformational Plan Includes New Housing, Enhanced Amenities and a Reimagined Northwest Campus Corridor

The Village’s redevelopment plan includes:

• An expansion of its signature Meadows apartment neighborhood, which will provide 47 homes in the heart of the Village campus. Construction is planned to begin this summer with completion in late fall 2027.
• The Country Club Estates, which will represent an innovative housing concept recently and successfully introduced in the senior independent living industry. The Village plans to begin construction on the first Estate home building this summer, with completion around mid-year 2027. This means the Village will be able to offer prospective residents 62 brand new… homes by the end of 2027. The current strategic plan calls for five additional Estates, which will form a row along the Village’s 9-hole golf course, enhancements for which are also included in the plan. Each of the Estates will include 15 homes on three floors, for a total of 90 homes for new residents once the entire complex is finished.
• The biggest housing project in campus history, The Country Club Towers. While still being finalized, the current plan calls for two distinct towers containing approximately 100+ homes ranging from 1,050 to 2,200 square feet. At seven to eight stories tall, the Towers could potentially become the tallest housing structure in the city of Lee’s Summit. Key planned amenities include a lakefront boardwalk, new dining venue, fitness and wellness spaces, community gathering areas, and garage parking beneath all residences.

This announcement comes at a time when demand for homes at John Knox Village has never been higher.

Last summer, the Village finished construction on a 52-home apartment building, Courtyards E Building. These homes were nearly sold out before construction was completed in September 2025, and now all but two are occupied by new residents.

In addition, nearly 90 future residents have placed priority deposits on homes in the Village when they become available. For certain types of homes, the wait list can be as long as two years or more.

It’s not just John Knox Village experiencing this increased demand; the trend is nationwide in the senior living industry. The first wave of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) turned 75 in 2020 and the so-called “Silver Tsunami” is expected to peak in 2039.

This “tsunami” is especially strong in the Kansas City area. The number of households in the Village’s primary market area that reflect potential future Village residents more than doubled between 2014 and 2022.

“This strong demand, coupled with the Village’s strong financial position, created the ideal moment to move forward,” said Maria Timberlake, Vice President of Senior Living. “These investments reflect our long-term commitment to enriching lives and building community.”

A More Connected, Vibrant Campus

The entire corridor will be enhanced with new green spaces, updated golf course and lake features, and a one‑mile walking path connecting the newly opened Daniel D. Rexroth Recreation Center to the northwest corner of the campus.

A new grand entrance at O’Brien and Pryor roads will further transform the arrival experience—signaling to residents, visitors and families that they’ve “arrived” at the heart of a thriving community.

A Decade of Progress — and More Ahead

Today’s announcement signals a new chapter in the redevelopment program started in 2014. Since then, John Knox Village has:

• Built The Meadows and completed one expansion
• Opened the new 52-home Courtyards E Building
• Tore down outdated single-family homes and replaced them with 78 brand new villas constructed in 12 phases, with more phases underway
• Upgraded its Villager Complex and Places Restaurant
• Added a dog park, veterans memorial and wind sculptures, with help from resident fundraising efforts
• Made and continues to invest in significant technology upgrades
• Consolidated and modernized the Village Care Center
• Built a third memory care building in Village Assisted Living
• Completed construction on the Daniel D. Rexroth Recreation Center, featuring pickleball, basketball, indoor/outdoor gathering spaces and more
• Secured funding for a new EMS facility scheduled to begin construction in March. This facility will provide three ambulance bays, training facilities and sleeping quarters for what is believed to be the only onsite ambulance service in the nation for a senior living community.

About John Knox Village

John Knox Village, located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, is one of the region’s most comprehensive continuing care retirement communities, offering a full range of independent living options, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and extensive wellness and lifestyle amenities. The Village is home to hundreds of residents across its 200-acre campus.