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Affordable Housing in Cleveland's Central Neighborhood: A Three-Decade Commitment
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 Central neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio, has a substantial inventory of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The neighborhood contains 1,750 units in LIHTC-funded projects, including 1,399 low-income units. This represents approximately 35.3% of the neighborhood's estimated 4,964 housing units, based on the 2022 population of 12,956.
The LIHTC projects in Central have received $9,350,706 in tax credits, averaging about $5,343 per unit in federal funding. Affordable housing development in this neighborhood spans from 1993 to 2019, with the earliest project, Cornerstone I & II, completed in 1993, and the most recent, Prospect Yard, finished in 2019.
The 2010s witnessed the most significant affordable housing development, with five projects completed during this decade. Notable projects from this period include Independence Place (2011), St. John's Village West Family Homes (2012), and Cedar Redevelopment Phase I and II (2016 and 2017).
The neighborhood's affordable housing inventory offers a range of unit sizes to accommodate different household needs. The distribution includes 29 efficiencies, 194 one-bedroom units, 181 two-bedroom units, 394 three-bedroom units, and 66 four-bedroom units. This distribution indicates a focus on family-sized housing, with a significant number of larger units available.
Central has experienced demographic shifts over the past decade. The population has grown from 11,203 in 2010 to 12,956 in 2022, indicating an increasing demand for housing. Median income has risen from $12,072 in 2013 to $15,331 in 2022, suggesting some economic improvement in the area.
Racial demographics have shown a gradual shift. The Black population remains the majority but has decreased from 89% in 2013 to 78% in 2022. The Hispanic population has increased from 2% to 8%, and the White population from 8% to 11% during the same period. This diversification may influence future affordable housing needs and designs.
The Central neighborhood in Cleveland has maintained a substantial LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory for nearly three decades, covering over a third of its estimated housing stock. The housing mix caters to various household sizes, with an emphasis on family-sized units. Recent demographic trends, including population growth, rising median income, and increasing diversity, may shape future affordable housing initiatives in the neighborhood.
