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Affordable Housing in Atlanta's West End: Three Decades 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 West End neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, features a substantial presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The area contains 305 units in LIHTC-funded projects, with 49 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 4,443 and using the national average household size, the neighborhood is estimated to have approximately 1,702 housing units. LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises about 17.9% of the estimated housing inventory, aligning with the target percentage for a well-balanced community.
The LIHTC program has made significant investments in the West End, with total project tax credits amounting to $487,933. This equates to an average federal funding of approximately $1,600 per unit in LIHTC-funded projects. The neighborhood has experienced consistent development of affordable housing over several decades, with the earliest recorded project completed in 1989 and the most recent in 2016. This 27-year span indicates a long-term commitment to affordable housing in the area.
The 1990s marked the most active period for LIHTC-funded housing development in the West End. Notable projects from this era include the Showcase District and Greenwich Street Apartments, completed in 1990 and 1991 respectively. The turn of the millennium saw the completion of the Ashley West End project in 2001, while the most recent addition is the Abernathy Tower Apartments, finished in 2016.
The LIHTC-funded housing stock in the West End offers a diverse range of unit types. It includes 24 efficiencies, 132 one-bedroom units, 112 two-bedroom units, and 17 three-bedroom units. This variety caters to different household sizes and needs within the low-income population.
Over the past decade, the West End has experienced notable demographic shifts. The population has remained relatively stable, with a slight decrease from 5,571 in 2020 to 4,443 in 2022. However, median income has increased significantly, rising from $25,688 in 2016 to $49,601 in 2022, potentially indicating gentrification trends.
Racial demographics have also evolved, with the Black population decreasing from 91% in 2013 to 74% in 2022, while the White population increased from 4% to 14% during the same period. The Asian and Hispanic populations have also grown, albeit more modestly. These changes suggest a gradual diversification of the neighborhood's racial composition.
The absence of new LIHTC projects since 2016 may be related to the rising median income and changing demographics, potentially reducing the perceived need for additional low-income housing in recent years.
The West End neighborhood in Atlanta has maintained a substantial inventory of LIHTC-funded affordable housing, developed primarily in the 1990s and early 2000s. The existing affordable housing stock covers a significant portion of the estimated housing units, aligning with recommended targets for balanced communities. Recent demographic shifts, including rising median income and changing racial composition, may be influencing the current landscape of affordable housing development in the area. These trends highlight the dynamic nature of urban neighborhoods and the ongoing need to reassess and adapt affordable housing strategies to meet evolving community needs.
