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Affordable Housing Concentration in South Side Lancaster: A Decade of LIHTC Development
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
The South Side neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, exhibits a high concentration of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The area contains 295 units in LIHTC funded projects, with 268 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 1,632 and an estimated 625 housing units, LIHTC funded affordable housing represents approximately 47% of the neighborhood's estimated housing inventory.
The LIHTC program has invested $3,233,581 in tax credits in South Side, averaging about $10,961 per unit in LIHTC funded projects. Affordable housing development occurred consistently from 2009 to 2014, with the earliest recorded projects, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Skyview Park Apts, completed in 2009, and the most recent known completion, Cedar 500, in 2014. This five-year span indicates a period of focused affordable housing development in the neighborhood.
The 2010s saw the majority of affordable housing activity, with four out of five known projects completed during this decade. The housing inventory includes a mix of unit sizes, predominantly two-bedroom (138 units) and three-bedroom (91 units) apartments, along with 21 one-bedroom units. This distribution suggests an emphasis on accommodating families of various sizes within the affordable housing stock.
South Side has experienced significant demographic changes over the past decade. The population decreased from 2,099 in 2015 to 1,632 in 2022, a reduction of about 22%. Despite this population decline, the median income increased substantially, from $29,690 in 2015 to $50,483 in 2022, representing a 70% increase.
Racial demographics in the neighborhood have evolved. The Hispanic population has remained the largest group, fluctuating between 54% and 63% of the total population. The White population has remained relatively stable, ranging from 17% to 24%. The Black population has shown more variability, decreasing from 17% in 2015 to 7% in 2022. There has been a notable increase in residents identifying as two or more races, rising from 2% in 2015 to 7% in 2022.
South Side neighborhood in Lancaster demonstrates a significant LIHTC-funded affordable housing presence, with nearly half of its estimated housing inventory dedicated to affordable units. The area has seen consistent development of affordable housing projects, particularly in the early 2010s, with a focus on family-sized units. Despite a decreasing population, the neighborhood has experienced significant income growth and evolving racial demographics over the past decade. These changes may impact future affordable housing strategies and needs in the area.
