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Affordable Housing in Bridgeport's West Side: LIHTC's Impact on Urban Demographics
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 Side/West End neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut, exhibits a significant presence of affordable housing through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. This area contains 425 units in LIHTC-funded projects, with 419 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 17,461 and utilizing the national average household size, an estimated 6,690 housing units exist in the neighborhood. LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises approximately 6.4% of the estimated housing inventory, indicating a substantial contribution to affordable housing options in the area.
The LIHTC program has made considerable investments in this neighborhood, with project tax credits totaling $5,616,915. This equates to an average federal funding of $13,216 per unit in LIHTC-funded projects. The affordable housing presence spans nearly two decades, with the earliest recorded project, Maplewood Court, completed in 1996, and the most recent, Laurelwood Place Apartments, finished in 2015.
The 2010s witnessed the most LIHTC activity, with several projects completed during this decade. Notable developments include the Eleanor (2010), Sycamore Place (2012), Clinton Commons (2013), and Laurelwood Place Apartments (2015). This concentration of projects suggests an increased focus on affordable housing development during this period.
The LIHTC-funded housing stock in the neighborhood offers a diverse range of unit types. Out of the 425 total units, there are 31 efficiencies, 256 one-bedroom units, 94 two-bedroom units, 36 three-bedroom units, and 8 four-bedroom units. This distribution indicates a focus on smaller households, with over 60% of units being one-bedroom apartments.
Over the past decade, the neighborhood's population has fluctuated, peaking at 20,446 in 2017 and decreasing to 17,461 by 2022. Despite these population changes, the median income has shown an overall upward trend, rising from $39,276 in 2013 to $47,470 in 2022. This increase in median income may suggest a changing economic landscape in the neighborhood.
The racial composition of the neighborhood has also evolved. The Hispanic population has remained the largest group, growing from 41% in 2013 to 48% in 2022. The Black population decreased from 36% to 23% during the same period, while the Asian population increased from 4% to 10%. The White population remained relatively stable, moving from 15% to 16%. These demographic shifts could influence the need for and distribution of affordable housing in the area.
The West Side/West End neighborhood of Bridgeport has a notable presence of LIHTC-funded affordable housing, representing about 6.4% of the estimated housing inventory. The area has seen consistent development of affordable housing projects from the late 1990s through the mid-2010s, with a concentration of activity in the 2010s. The housing stock is diverse, with a focus on smaller units. While the population has fluctuated, median income has increased, and the racial composition has shifted over the past decade. These demographic changes may influence future affordable housing needs and development in the neighborhood.
