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Affordable Housing in Boyle Heights: LIHTC Impact on a Predominantly Hispanic 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
Boyle Heights, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, has a significant presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The area has 1,045 units in LIHTC-funded projects, with 985 designated as low-income units. This inventory of affordable housing addresses the community's housing needs.
Based on the 2022 population of 82,221 and the national average household size of 2.61, there are approximately 31,502 housing units in the neighborhood. LIHTC-funded affordable housing units represent about 3.3% of this estimated housing inventory, indicating that LIHTC projects contribute to affordable housing in Boyle Heights as part of a broader strategy.
The LIHTC program has invested significantly in Boyle Heights, with project tax credits totaling $19,676,067. This translates to an average federal funding of about $18,830 per unit in LIHTC-funded projects, demonstrating a substantial commitment to affordable housing in the neighborhood.
Affordable housing has been a long-standing feature in Boyle Heights, with the earliest LIHTC project completed in 1989 and the most recent addition in 2019, indicating a 30-year span of LIHTC-funded development in the area.
The 2010s saw the most significant growth in LIHTC-funded affordable housing in Boyle Heights. Notable projects from this period include The Whittier and Linda Vista Senior Apts (both completed in 2013), Beswick Senior Apartments and Las Alturas (both completed in 2014), and Santa Cecilia Apartments (completed in 2016).
The LIHTC-funded housing stock in Boyle Heights offers a diverse range of unit types. It includes 62 efficiencies, 417 one-bedroom units, 209 two-bedroom units, 169 three-bedroom units, and 6 four-bedroom units. This variety caters to different household sizes and needs within the community.
Some LIHTC projects in Boyle Heights target specific populations. For instance, Las Palomas Hotel, completed in 1995, focuses on special needs residents, while Cielito Lindo Apartments - Phase II, completed in 2019, is designed for transitional age youth. These targeted projects address the unique housing requirements of vulnerable populations in the neighborhood.
Over the past decade, Boyle Heights has experienced some demographic shifts. The population has remained relatively stable, with a slight increase from 80,127 in 2013 to 82,221 in 2022. The median income has seen significant growth, rising from $35,812 in 2013 to $49,770 in 2022, indicating improving economic conditions for residents.
The racial composition of Boyle Heights has remained largely consistent, with Hispanic residents comprising about 94-95% of the population throughout the decade. This stability in demographic makeup suggests that LIHTC projects have continued to serve a predominantly Hispanic community.
Boyle Heights has a substantial inventory of LIHTC-funded affordable housing, developed over three decades. While these units represent a small percentage of the estimated housing stock, they play a vital role in providing affordable options in the neighborhood. The area has seen consistent LIHTC development, particularly in the 2010s, with projects catering to various household sizes and specific populations. Despite rising median incomes, the continued development of affordable housing through 2019 indicates an ongoing need for such units in this predominantly Hispanic community.
