Julia Williams
Julia Williams
Editor-in-Chief
50 new affordable housing units have expanded the Blue Valley neighborhood at the intersection of Hardesty Avenue and Truman Road (1616 Hardesty Ave.), signifying the completion of an over 11-year project in the making for Guadalupe Centers.
Villa View Apartments — in partnership with Guadalupe Centers, a Latino social service organization and charter schools program — is a mixed-use, community complex aimed to contribute toward affordable housing and accessibility for individuals and families in Kansas City.
This project, which broke ground in March 2024, according to Northeast News archives, invited the community to join public officials and Guadalupe Centers Chief Executive Officer Beto Lopez at a ribbon cutting ceremony and viewing of the building’s completion on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Missouri District 5 U.S. House Representative Emanuel Cleaver II, City Manager Mario Vasquez and UMB Bank — financial project partner — Director of Impact Finance Tracy Howard, among others were in attendance on Aug. 6. Each of these stakeholders spoke to what they believe this new facility will bring to the community.
“Our seeds, our origin, started a little west of here, but we continue to meet the needs of the community, and that’s why we’re here,” Lopez said in a speech. “Housing is an important issue, multi-income housing, affordable housing is a huge need.”
While this housing complex is entirely new, the land it sits on holds a vast history. This location at the intersection of Hardesty Avenue and Truman Road was formerly home to St. Paul School of Theology — a United Methodist Seminary, which was founded in 1958 at 5203 E. Truman Road. While Northeast held the institution’s original site, St. Paul School of Theology went on to expand its program in 2008 to Oklahoma City, Okla.
However, in the Fall of 2013, the university moved out of the neighborhood and began offering courses at its location in Leawood, Kan. And in Spring of 2014, St. Paul School of Theology sold its Truman Road property, which encompassed an over 217,000 square-foot campus, to Guadalupe Centers.
“When we moved into this neighborhood, we promised St. Paul School of Theology, who sold the property to us, that we would preserve the legacy and the integrity of this campus,” Lopez said in a speech, Aug. 6.
As a graduate of St. Paul School of Theology, Rep. Cleaver shared that this mission of preservation remains important to him.
“When Guadalupe Centers purchased the building, I just thought, ‘Oh man, that’s the answer,’” Rep. Cleaver shared in a speech. “What [they] have done here is amazing. I think that in years to come, there are going to be people who are not even here today who will benefit from what [they’ve] done here.”
The public had an opportunity to view two units in this affordable housing complex on Aug. 6, following a ribbon cutting ceremony.
This four-floor structure offers a variety of rent options including one bed, one bath units and two bed, two bath units.
Guadalupe Centers Villa View Apartments offers a variety of income restricted and market value units. Low income rentals include both 30 and 60% income restrictions — meaning a tenant’s annual gross income cannot exceed over 30 or 60% of the total monthly rent.
However, as this is a mixed-use complex, it additionally houses market value apartments, which range anywhere from $925 for a one bed, one bath to $1,100 for a two bed, two bath. Rent prices in total at Villa View Apartments fluctuate from $530 to $1,300 depending on income, number of bedrooms and square footage.
A few unit options are as follows:
- One bed, one bath with a balcony, 658 square feet, $1,150 per month without income restrictions
- One bed, one bath, 714 square feet, $1,150 per month without income restrictions
- Two bed, two bath, 958 square feet, $627 per month
- Two bed, two bath, 1,071 square feet, $1,350 per month without income restrictions
Currently, this complex’s units are rented out to full capacity, Villa View Apartments Regional Manager Sophie Ambrose shared in an interview. Tenants began the move-in process on Aug. 11, starting with 12-month leases.
“I’m really excited about having nice, accessible apartments in this neighborhood,” Ambrose said. “I look forward to having everyone in the neighborhood.”
In addition to public officials, various community members attended the ribbon cutting and open house opportunity on Aug. 6 — including Sheffield Neighborhood Association President, Mark Morales.
“I’m looking forward to the community engagement from tenants and the benefits for the community to help them,” Morales said in an interview. “[These units] will be attainable and it’s in a dynamic area with schools and parks.”
This complex additionally features various on-site amenities for residents including — but not limited to — elevator and indoor mail delivery, controlled access entry with intercom, off street parking for registered vehicles with parking permits, community rooms, rooftop terrace, community area and grilling station as well as an on-site manager and 24-hour emergency maintenance services.
Pets under 25 pounds are allowed with the inclusion of cats and small dogs. However certain units — the market price two bed, two bath to name one — are cats allowed only. A non-refundable $150 pet fee is required. Pet rent is $35 per month per pet — with an exception of service animals and emotional support animals (ESA), who will have their fees waived.
All tenants are required to pay either a $500 security deposit up front or first month’s rent, whichever price is lower, as well as provide a completed tax credit application. The application fee is $25, which goes toward a credit report and criminal background check, according to information provided by Villa View Apartments and Beacon Management, LLC — its management company.
Tenants who qualify will also have access to Guadalupe Centers available services from emergency assistance, case management and adult education to workforce training and youth education programs.
“This is the beginning and now that we know that we can do this and we can sustain this going forward, I think there’s a lot more of this to come in the name of the mission of Guadalupe Centers,” Kevin Pringer, Guadalupe Centers board chairman shared.
For additional information on the Villa View Apartments, or to join the waitlist, visit: https://www.beacon.cc/villaview.html.
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