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Affordable Housing in Alkali Flat: LIHTC's Impact on Sacramento's Evolving Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Alkali Flat, a neighborhood in Sacramento, California, has a significant presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The area contains 169 affordable housing units, with 167 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 1,324 and an estimated 507 housing units, LIHTC funded affordable housing comprises approximately 33.3% of the neighborhood's estimated housing inventory. This percentage indicates that LIHTC projects play a substantial role in providing affordable housing options in Alkali Flat.
The LIHTC program has invested significantly in Alkali Flat, with project tax credits totaling $2,190,496. This equates to an average federal funding of approximately $12,962 per unit across all LIHTC projects in the neighborhood. The affordable housing presence in Alkali Flat spans several decades, with the earliest project, Midtown Apts, completed in 1988, and the most recent projects, Washington Square III and Globe Mills, both completed in 2008. This 20-year span demonstrates a sustained commitment to affordable housing development in the area.
The 2000s marked a significant period for affordable housing development in Alkali Flat, with two major projects completed in 2008. Globe Mills, the largest project, provides 113 units, primarily consisting of one-bedroom apartments, while Washington Square III offers a more diverse mix of 54 units, including one to four-bedroom options.
In total, the LIHTC projects in Alkali Flat offer a mix of unit types, including 1 efficiency, 120 one-bedroom, 3 two-bedroom, 8 three-bedroom, and 8 four-bedroom units. This distribution suggests a focus on accommodating diverse household sizes, with a particular emphasis on smaller households.
Over the past decade, Alkali Flat has experienced notable demographic shifts. The population has grown from 1,013 in 2017 to 1,324 in 2022, a 30.7% increase. Concurrently, the median income has risen from $23,879 in 2017 to $28,638 in 2022, showing a 20% increase.
Racial demographics have also evolved. The white population has remained relatively stable, decreasing slightly from 55% in 2017 to 52% in 2022. The Hispanic population has decreased from 27% to 21%, while the Asian population has increased from 3% to 12%. The Black population has seen a decrease from 14% to 3% during this period.
These demographic changes, particularly the population growth and income increase, suggest a potential growing demand for affordable housing options in the neighborhood. However, no new LIHTC projects have been completed since 2008, which may indicate that other affordable housing initiatives or market-rate developments are addressing the changing needs of the community.
Alkali Flat demonstrates a significant presence of LIHTC funded affordable housing, with projects covering about one-third of the estimated housing inventory. The neighborhood has seen substantial investment through the LIHTC program, with projects spanning from 1988 to 2008. The housing mix caters to various household sizes, with a predominance of one-bedroom units. Despite demographic changes in the past decade, including population growth and rising median income, no new LIHTC projects have been completed since 2008. This analysis provides insight into the role of LIHTC in shaping Alkali Flat's affordable housing landscape and its interaction with evolving demographic trends.
