Neighbors split over soccer star-backed apartment proposal in Westside near downtown KC

Westside neighbors are divided over a proposal to bring a new six-plex to the changing, in-demand neighborhood near downtown.

Graham Zusi, a Westside resident and soccer icon known for his decade-plus playing for the Sporting Kansas City club, has presented plans for a three-story “multi-unit house,” or a multi-family building with one street entrance that looks like a large house, with six two-bedroom units on a vacant site at 1639-41 Summit St.

Units in the six-plex would be for rent at market rate, and the building would include amenities like a dog run, a fitness area and on-site parking.

The Westside, a longtime hub for the city’s Latino community and businesses, has experienced demographic changes and rocketing property values as pricey new homes pop up in the eclectic neighborhood also known for its trendy bars and restaurants and mix of architectural styles and sizes.

The city’s plan commission voted to approve a special use permit for the six-plex on Wednesday ahead of an expected Board of Zoning Adjustment on Feb. 26. The permit was needed to allow for a “multi-unit house” on property zoned for single-family, duplexes and townhomes.

“For someone my age, or younger than I am, that wants to be in a neighborhood like this, they have no opportunity of being there,” plan commission member Sean Arkin said at the Wednesday meeting. “When I went to go buy a house four years ago, I looked in Westside. That was my first choice. I couldn’t afford it. I couldn’t even touch anything for renovation.”

Having the ability to rent in a building like this instead of buying, and being able to walk out his door to the Westside neighborhood would’ve been amazing, he said.

“I think this building actually allows younger people to achieve that goal in a great part of the city,” Arkin said.

The six-plex would have a contemporary architecture style, similar to many of the new homes in the neighborhood.

The access for vehicles would be off the public alley running behind the property. The alley is in poor condition, but developers are working with the city on coming up with a way to improve it.

Neighbors split over planned six-plex in the Westside

Dozens of residents have spoken and submitted comments to the city about the proposal, both for and against.

Supporters have said the project will fit the neighborhood’s past and present and offer a housing option more affordable than a single-family house in the popular neighborhood with a tight housing market: perhaps for a young family, an artist or a retired couple.

They have said Zusi has been a good neighbor to the Westside and will continue to be one with the six-plex.

Roger Espinoza told the plan commission that he has known Zusi for 16 years and, as regular visitors, they both dreamed of visiting in the Westside before both buying homes. He said Zusi is committed to improving the neighborhood.

Supporters say the six-plex will complement the neighborhood’s unique mix of single-family and multi-family housing near downtown.

“We think our neighborhood is very lucky to have such a thoughtful project for those empty lots, and the proposed development is as close to a ‘best-case scenario’ as could be expected for development in the Westside North neighborhood,” said one letter from a group of neighbors.

But opponents say the six-plex could undermine the Westside’s rich legacy, endanger its historical charm and hurt the financial stability and quality of life for the neighborhood.

Opponents have said the six-plex would be out of scale, doesn’t meet city standards and could strain neighborhood infrastructure — while questioning whether it would really make housing in the Westside more affordable.

Virginia Salazar Bellis, representing multiple Westside groups and organizers in opposition, said residents who signed a petition are asking city officials to honor zoning codes and defend their neighborhood. Approving the project would betray trust, she said, and accelerate trends of land prices skyrocketing, making it more difficult for families to stay and the neighborhood to stay diverse and vibrant.

“Their fear is real that this proposal, if approved, would send a message that zoning laws and community planning efforts are merely obstacles for those with money and influence to sidestep,” Salazar Bellis said. “That our voices can be drowned out by the sound of speculation and profit. This would further fuel the displacement and gentrification that is already threatening our community.”

This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 12:18 PM.