$307,702Average Value$200Average Price per Sq Ft7Homes For Sale
Baker has several craftsman style homes with nice curb appeal and exterior garages.
Close-knit Lawrence neighborhood with classic charm
Houses ranging from a handful of 19th century Italianates to quaint cottages built between the early and mid-20th century fill Lawrence’s Barker neighborhood. The generational charm of these homes appeals to many, and the community works diligently to maintain its distinct character. “They take a lot of pride in how their yards look,” says Chris Black, owner of the One Heart Farm & Nursery, a neighborhood institution since the early 1900s. “They’re constantly doing different projects, upkeep and renovations.” Black supplies the community with the perennials, annuals and hanging flower baskets many here use to spruce up their houses and gardens. Throughout the week, the close-knit community enjoys activities ranging from stops at its artisan bakery to mingling over free coffee at the Sunrise Project, a nonprofit with a volunteer-maintained greenhouse and garden. “It’s just a very livable place because you can shop in your own neighborhood for a lot of things you would need day to day,” says Lisa Harris-Frydman, president of the Barker Neighborhood Association. “We’re also rich in culture and arts here. The hardware store has two huge murals on their building just to beautify the neighborhood. It’s a wonderful thing. And we have a lot of front porches, so people are always outside and visiting.”
Cottages and other charming and established styles
Houses near groups of mature oaks line Barker’s streets. Although sidewalks don’t exist in certain parts of the neighborhood, their absence hardly prevents leisurely strolls or walks to destinations like the University of Kansas. The neighborhood has an above average Walk Score and a Very Bikeable Bike Score. Colorful clapboard and single-story cottages make up much of the housing across Barker, and their footprints typically range between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet. “They’re good, comfortable, solid houses,” says Thomas Howe, an associate broker with McGrew Real Estate, who’s made 10 sales in Barker.Some of the houses come with distinct features like saltbox style, gambrel and half-hipped roofs. A few Craftsman bungalows and ranch-style houses also exist, and some homes blend these styles with other builds. Harris-Frydman, for instance, affectionately calls her house a “bungaloid.” The house has the columns and woodwork commonly seen with bungalows, but has a full second story — bungalows are distinctly one or one and a half stories. A few foursquares and Italianates from the 1800s add to the mix of housing. Trimmed plantings in front of the houses further enhance their character. Houses run roughly between $200,000 and $500,000, depending on size and age.
Craftsman bungalows are commonly found in the Baker neighborhood.
Craftsman bungalows from the early to mid 20th century line the quiet streets of Baker.
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1900 Baker is a local bakery an coffee shop with 2 locations.
Pastries and coffee at 1900 bakery and community cafe at Sunrise Project
Located in the heart of the neighborhood is the 1900 Barker - Bakery and Cafe, the owner of which is a multiple James Beard award semi-finalist. A go-to for locally made breads and a variety of coffees, the cafe is also known for pastries ranging from scones and chocolate chip cookies to almond croissants. Down the street from the bakery is the Taqueria La Pasadita, a staple for authentic Mexican street food. The Taqueria’s menu includes soft shell corn tortilla tacos and tortas. Guests can pair their meal with one of the many Jarritos sodas lining the restaurant’s wooden shelves. Those looking to mingle with other residents over coffee and snacks can stop by the Sunrise Project on the weekends. Each Sunday afternoon, the nonprofit hosts a free community cafe — although donations are welcomed. Visitors can also grab a book, play some board games or use the Wi-Fi to do some work on their laptops. More than a neighborhood stop for tools and landscaping equipment, the Cottin’s Hardware & Rental hosts the community’s weekly farmers market. Every Thursday, many flock to the store’s parking lot to browse a range of items that include farm fresh produce, plantings, local grass fed beef and homemade barbecue sauce. The market moves inside the store during the winters. The store, which runs under the True Value brand, also allows dog owners to bring their pets inside while shopping. “They have just gone out of their way to create a community,” Harris-Frydman says. The business neighbors a Dillons, which provides a grocery shopping option.
Burroughs Creek Park and trail rides through East Lawrence
Barker sits within reach of a few small green spaces. North of the neighborhood is Burroughs Creek Park. A favorite of children in the community, the park features colorful and creatively designed climbing sets and a recently added splash pad. A few stone blocks add to the park’s decor, and one has a fish carved into its side. Further adding to the park’s creative design is a picnic pavilion with wood columns attached to panels of old street signs. The Burroughs Creek Trail — which forms a roughly 3-mile path with the Haskell Rail Trail — allows for bike rides and jogs across East Lawrence and connects Barker to sites like the Haskell Indian Nations University campus to the south. Chief Jim McSwain Park offers another green space with a playground and basketball court.
Burroughs Creek Park has a great splash pad for the kids.
Burroughs Creek Trail runs thought the center of Burroughs Creek Park.
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Liberty Memorial Central Middle School has a B grading from Niche.
STEAM focus at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School
Younger students here can start at either New York or Cordley elementary schools, which receive a B-minus and B-plus respectively from ratings site Niche. They can then go on to Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, which receives a B from Niche. Liberty Memorial has a STEAM initiative and offers courses in subjects like coding, app creation and flight and space. Students then go on to Lawrence High School, which receives an A-minus from Niche. The high school’s extra curricular activities include improv and film clubs. The school’s alumni includes Brian McClendon, who’s credited with being the creator of groundbreaking digital tool, Google Earth.
Concert series at Vintage Church and Sunrise Project’s talent showcases
In partnership with Harris-Frydman and her husband, the Vintage Church on the far northwestern corner of the neighborhood hosts a series of concerts throughout the year. While they don’t occur every month, the church will sometimes put on as many as three shows in a month. “It depends on who’s coming through town,” Harris-Frydman says. The acts are typically smaller bands that are starting out and on the road to other shows in larger cities like Kansas City and St. Louis. “It’s a perfect partnership,” Harris-Frydman says about the collaboration with the church. The Sunrise Project’s lineup of events includes Talent Time on the first Sunday of each month. The nonprofit invites goers to take part in expressive activities like sharing artwork, reading a poem or singing a song they wrote.
Close to I-70 commute and Lawrence Memorial
Barker lies about 4 miles south of Interstate 70, which provides a direct route to Kansas City to the east and state capital Topeka to the west. Lawrence sits about 27 miles and 40 miles, respectively, from Topeka and Kansas City. Located about 3 miles north of the neighborhood, the Lawrence Memorial Hospital provides the nearest major medical facility. While the city operates its own airport, many here travel to the Kansas City International Airport for out-of-state flights.
Additional Barker facts
Barker has CAP Index crime score of four out of 10, which puts it on par with the national average.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Barker, Lawrence sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Barker, Lawrence over the last 12 months is $264,250, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
I am pleased to share a new listing in Barker neighborhood. This Bungalow needs a refresh. Priced $94,500 below the Douglas County appraised value. All monies and sweat equity will be rewarded, guaranteed. Home is being sold AS IS. No repairs will be made by the owner. Please perform due diligence prior to submitting the purchase agreement. Located on one of the best stretches of New Hampshire
Freshly updated including new garage doors, new garage electrical, freshly graveled alley access to garage, trees and yard landscaping have been cleared to create easy access for extra large lot and additional shed in the back part of the property at this charming Mid-Century Ranch in the Heart of Barker! Welcome to 1950 Barker Ave—an irresistibly charming 1950s ranch nestled in the sought-after
Hurry up for this Investor Special in the Heart of Barker! This charming 2-bedroom, 1-bath bungalow offers 850 sq ft of potential and is priced BELOW county appraised value—a rare find in one of Lawrence’s most beloved neighborhoods. With just a bit of TLC, this home is ready to shine again. Sitting on a massive 13,380 sq ft lot, the possibilities are wide open: renovate, expand, or build new.
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