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Affordable Housing in Columbus' Southside: LIHTC Impact and Demographic Shifts
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 Southside neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, contains a diverse Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The neighborhood has 110 total units in LIHTC-funded projects, including 20 designated low-income units. This addresses affordable housing needs that have persisted for several decades. The LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises approximately 1.1% of the neighborhood's estimated 10,139 housing units.
The LIHTC program has made substantial investments in Southside, with project tax credits totaling $826,267. This equates to an average federal funding of $7,511 per unit across all LIHTC-funded projects in the neighborhood. Affordable housing has been a component of Southside's infrastructure since 1990, beginning with the construction of Indian Mound Apts. The most recent addition to the affordable housing stock is New Southpointe Village, completed in 2018. This 28-year span indicates a sustained commitment to affordable housing in the area.
The 1990s were the most active period for LIHTC-funded housing development, with two projects completed during this decade: Indian Mound Apts (1990) and Highview Place (1996). The LIHTC-funded housing in Southside offers a range of unit types, including 4 efficiencies, 49 two-bedroom units, 52 three-bedroom units, and 4 four-bedroom units. This distribution suggests an emphasis on accommodating families of various sizes within the affordable housing stock.
Southside has experienced significant demographic changes over the past decade. The population has increased from 24,871 in 2013 to 26,464 in 2022, indicating a growing demand for housing overall. Median income has fluctuated, rising from $55,621 in 2013 to $58,434 in 2022, with variations in between. This modest income growth may indicate a continued need for affordable housing options.
Racial demographics in Southside have also evolved. The white population has decreased from 84% in 2013 to 74% in 2022, while the Black population has increased slightly from 11% to 13%. The Asian population has grown from less than 1% to 3%, and the Hispanic population has risen from 1% to 4%. This increasing diversity may suggest changing housing needs and preferences in the neighborhood. The completion of New Southpointe Village in 2018 aligns with these demographic shifts, potentially responding to the growing and diversifying population's need for affordable housing options.
Southside's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory, while modest in proportion to the overall housing stock, represents a long-term commitment to providing affordable options in the neighborhood. The diversity of unit types suggests an effort to accommodate various household sizes. The continued development of LIHTC projects, with the most recent in 2018, indicates an ongoing recognition of affordable housing needs. As the neighborhood's population continues to grow and diversify, maintaining and potentially expanding affordable housing options may be crucial for ensuring a balanced and inclusive community.
