The FC Cincinnati stadium site in the West End is growing to the north, increasing its footprint to approximately 16 acres, new plans show.

The team is in the process of working with the Port Authority, who will own the stadium, to acquire John Street land where the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall now sits. The new area also includes two properties on the south side of Wade Street, all of which is just north of the currently-approved stadium site.

The Wade Street properties were thrust into the spotlight last week when residents in one of the buildings complained about being pushed out, including 99-year-old Mary Page. The team has agreed to help Page relocate.

The 26,000-seat stadium footprint itself remains the same, with the new land acquired for parking, according to FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding.

"The site for the FC Cincinnati stadium is the same today as it was in early 2018," Berding said. "However, as we anticipate how to solve for parking 26,000-plus fans in a manner that keeps them out of neighborhood streets, the addition of these few properties along Wade Street improves the overall development.”

The Cincinnati Planning Commission must sign off on the expansion, followed by new approval from Cincinnati City Council. Those meetings are set for next month.

People have a chance to comment during an April 22 Planning Commission staff meeting that is open to the public.

It's land the team has eyed from the get-go because of its location across the fence from what was Stargel Stadium.

But the Jehovah's Witnesses held out for months. Finally, The Port - which is the city and county's redevelopment agency - was able to negotiate a deal in which it would buy the property, though the team would pay for it, giving money to The Port. For financing reasons, The Port has ownership of the stadium site.

The transfer of the kingdom hall property isn't complete and a sale price was not available. Church leaders could not be reached for comment.

The team hasn't said how much it's spent on land. And it doesn't have to. It's privately paying for a $250 million stadium, though it has almost $35 million in infrastructure support from city taxpayers.

The new property means the 11-acre West End site will grow by roughly five acres. The stadium and related development goes from John Street on the west to Central Parkway on the east. From the south it starts just north of Taft High School, which is located on Ezzard Charles Drive running to the south side of Wade Street to the north.

The south side of Wade Street was not in site plans previously approved by the planning commission and City Council.

More:FC Cincinnati stadium: Planning commission gives go-ahead; heads to council next

More:A 99-year-old woman has to move out of an FC Cincinnati-owned building, prompting scrutiny about displacement

More:Will FC Cincinnati stadium force out West End residents? Study says they're already at risk.

IF YOU GO:

What: Cincinnati Planning Commission Public Staff Conference

When: April 22, 6 p.m.

Where: Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, 901 Findlay Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45214