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Affordable Housing Development in Columbus' Southwest Airport: A Two-Decade Analysis
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Southwest Airport neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, has a significant presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The area contains 436 total units in LIHTC-funded projects, with 256 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 11,940 and the national average household size of 2.61, the neighborhood has an estimated 4,575 housing units. LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises approximately 9.5% of the estimated housing inventory, representing a substantial contribution to the area's affordable housing stock.
The LIHTC projects in Southwest Airport have received $1,939,617 in project tax credits, averaging about $4,449 per unit across all LIHTC-funded projects in the neighborhood. Affordable housing development in the area spans over two decades, with the first project, Cameron Creek Apartments, completed in 1998, and the most recent, Crosswinds Village, finished in 2020. This 22-year span indicates a long-term commitment to affordable housing in the area.
The 2020s marked the largest investment in affordable housing with the completion of Crosswinds Village, adding 232 units to the neighborhood's affordable housing inventory, all designated as low-income units. The affordable housing inventory in Southwest Airport offers a diverse mix of unit types, with the majority being two-bedroom (276 units), followed by three-bedroom (100 units), and one-bedroom (60 units). This distribution suggests a focus on accommodating families of various sizes.
Southwest Airport has experienced demographic shifts over the past decade. The population grew from 10,679 in 2013 to 11,940 in 2022, an increase of about 11.8%. During this period, the median income rose from $59,671 in 2013 to $69,691 in 2022, representing a 16.8% increase. The racial composition of the neighborhood has remained relatively stable, with the white population being the majority but showing a slight decrease from 77% in 2013 to 69% in 2022. The Black population has seen a small increase from 13% to 16% during the same period.
The completion of Crosswinds Village in 2020 coincides with the period of population growth and increasing median income, suggesting a response to growing housing needs in the area. Southwest Airport neighborhood demonstrates a consistent commitment to affordable housing through LIHTC-funded projects. The area has seen significant investment in affordable housing, particularly in recent years, with projects that cater to diverse household sizes.
The LIHTC-funded units represent a substantial portion of the estimated housing inventory, contributing to the neighborhood's housing diversity. The demographic trends, including population growth and increasing median income, appear to correlate with the recent expansion of affordable housing options, suggesting a responsive approach to changing community needs.
