As FC Cincinnati builds a new soccer stadium in Cincinnati's West End neighborhood, team officials have promised no one would have to move.

But it turns out at least 17 people have or will have to relocate from properties owned by the team just north of the stadium site, the Enquirer has found.

Some don't yet have a place go to, and that's prompting social justice advocates to object to a planned expansion of the stadium site to be considered by a city board Monday night.

"That promise has been broken and it further erodes our ability to trust FCC to keep their word," said Tia Brown, a spokeswoman for Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, a West End-based social service agency.

"This situation takes us right back to the early fears of the community of being pushed out," she added. "Those fears were called unfounded and an emotional response to change. But we all now see those fears were and are valid."

On Friday afternoon, FC Cincinnati officials scaled back its site expansion request to the city, which will allow some of those residents more time to find housing.

Specifically, 421 Wade St., the three-family building where 99-year-old Mary Page lives, was removed from the zoning change request. Page, who is bedridden and has lived in the neighborhood for years, spoke out about not wanting to move earlier this month, drawing attention to the matter.

“We understand some tenants in Wade St and Central Ave properties need more time to find housing and are sympathetic to their needs," said FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding. " We are working diligently to assist tenants."

'What would you want for your own family?'

FC Cincinnati was awarded a Major League Soccer team this year, which came with a requirement that it must build a soccer-specific stadium in the urban core. It's privately funding the $250 million stadium. Cincinnati City Council approved the West End site, along with roughly $35 million in public funds for infrastructure work at and around the stadium.

The team recently asked council to expand the site north to include buildings at 421 Wade Street, 423 Wade Street and the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall that sits next to those properties on John Street after the team bought those properties and another at 1559 Central Avenue.

As a result of the sale, building residents have or will have to move out. The Enquirer found 14 people at 421 Wade Street and 1559 Central Avenue still haven't found new housing.

Three tenants moved out of buildings that had been on the site last year, in addition to the 14 from 421 Wade Street and 1559 Central Avenue. The team also bought a vacant property at 423 Wade Street.

A public meeting on the expansion is scheduled for Monday night.

Social justice advocates, along with the residents have cried foul.

Josh Spring, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, is calling for council to pass legislation that says developers who get any benefits – tax abatements, discounted land or zoning changes – can not displace residents.

"If we continue to allow all this to just run amok through our community, we’re going to continue to split up neighborhoods, split up neighbors, increase homelessness," Spring said.

Some members of council who approved the original site are so concerned they say they won't vote for expansion until everyone is happy.

"The question we have to ask is, "What would you want for your own family?" said Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman. "That’s how everyone has to be taken care of. I’ve asked the team to do that first before we take up anything."

Last week, Councilman Chris Seelbach visited the residents who have to move.

"Unfortunately it's another promise broken," Seelbach said. "At some point city council needs to realize residents and neighborhoods, not just flashy stadiums, are the lifeblood of our city."

'We remain hopeful'

Council members have expressed concern about displacement and The Port – a redevelopment agency funded by the city and county – is working on several initiatives to help residents remain there as economic conditions improve. But, as with any development project, market forces can displace people.

FC Cincinnati is paying for a housing study of the neighborhood, which is expected to be completed this summer. Preliminary data shown to council last week showed everyone who rents a market-rate property and three-fourths of all homeowners in the neighborhood are at risk of losing their homes even before the stadium is built.

The main reason: poverty that keeps many residents one car repair or sickness from losing their homes.

Wade Street shows exactly what can happen.

Multiple developers sought to purchase 421 Wade St. and 1559 Central Ave. from Fred Berger, the owner, he previously told The Enquirer. Berger approached FCC to purchase the properties, knowing just how close to the stadium site they were.

The team had already bought 423 Wade Street last year.

FC Cincinnati and Berger reached a deal, though a price has not been disclosed. Then residents in 421 Wade St. and 1559 Central Ave. were told Feb. 13 they had 70 days to find new housing. It was more than the 30 days required by law; Berger said he offered people space in other properties he owns.

"We are very concerned about further displacement as the FC boundary tries to continue to grow," Brown said. "But we remain hopeful to strengthen this relationship as we want FCC and the West End community as a whole to thrive."

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