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Affordable Housing in Forest Park, Detroit: LIHTC Impact on Neighborhood 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
Forest Park, a neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, exhibits a significant presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The neighborhood's LIHTC inventory comprises 269 total units, with 170 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 2,209 and using the national average household size, the estimated housing units in the neighborhood are approximately 846. The LIHTC funded affordable housing accounts for about 31.8% of the estimated housing inventory, indicating a substantial contribution to the neighborhood's affordable housing needs.
Forest Park has experienced LIHTC funded affordable housing development over nearly a decade. The initial project, Friendship Meadows, was completed in 1993, while the most recent, Forest Park Apartments, was finished in 2002. This demonstrates a long-term commitment to affordable housing in the area.
The 1990s witnessed the most significant affordable housing development activity in Forest Park. Notable projects from this period include Friendship Meadows II (1995), Marketplace Court (1996), and Friendship Meadows III (2000). This concentration of development suggests a focused effort to address affordable housing needs during that decade.
The LIHTC funded projects in Forest Park offer a diverse range of unit sizes. Of the 269 total units, 144 are one-bedroom apartments, 73 are two-bedroom units, 6 are three-bedroom units, and 1 is a four-bedroom unit. This distribution indicates a focus on smaller households, with a significant provision for individuals or couples.
Over the past decade, Forest Park has experienced some notable demographic shifts. The population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 2,185 and 2,526 residents. However, the median income has seen a significant increase, rising from $13,963 in 2017 to $24,682 in 2022. This upward trend in income could potentially affect the demand for affordable housing in the future.
Racial demographics have remained fairly consistent, with the Black population comprising the majority (92-96%) throughout the decade. There has been a slight increase in diversity in recent years, with small percentages of Hispanic, Native American, and multiracial residents appearing in the data.
Forest Park's LIHTC funded affordable housing inventory plays a substantial role in the neighborhood's housing landscape, covering nearly one-third of the estimated housing units. The development of these projects, primarily in the 1990s and early 2000s, demonstrates a historical commitment to affordable housing in the area. The unit mix, predominantly one and two-bedroom apartments, suggests a focus on smaller households. While the population has remained stable, the rising median income in recent years could impact future affordable housing needs. The consistent racial composition, with a predominantly Black population, underscores the importance of culturally sensitive housing policies and community development strategies.
