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Affordable Housing in Garfield: LIHTC's Impact on a Changing Pittsburgh 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
Garfield, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, contains Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The neighborhood's LIHTC inventory comprises 24 total affordable units, all designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 3,996 and using the national average household size, there are approximately 1,531 housing units in Garfield. The LIHTC funded affordable housing accounts for about 1.57% of the estimated housing inventory in the neighborhood.
The LIHTC projects in Garfield have received $927,479 in project tax credits. This translates to an average federal funding of approximately $38,645 per unit. The neighborhood has had LIHTC-funded affordable housing for over two decades. The earliest project, Garfield Jubilee Rehab Project, was completed in 1997, while the most recent, Fairmont Apts, was finished in 2006. The 1990s saw the completion of one affordable housing project, followed by another in the 2000s.
The LIHTC-funded housing in Garfield offers various unit types. Of the 24 total units, 12 are one-bedroom apartments, 7 are two-bedroom units, 3 are three-bedroom units, and 2 are four-bedroom units. This distribution indicates a focus on accommodating different household sizes, from individuals to larger families.
Over the past decade, Garfield has experienced demographic shifts. The population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 3,700 and 4,000 residents. The median income has increased significantly, rising from $22,635 in 2013 to $48,999 in 2022. This upward trend in income may partially explain the lack of new LIHTC projects in recent years.
The racial composition of Garfield has changed noticeably. The Black population has decreased from 83% in 2013 to 60% in 2022, while the White population has increased from 9% to 28% during the same period. The Asian population has grown slightly from 0% to 3%, and the proportion of residents identifying as two or more races has increased from 4% to 7%.
Garfield's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory provides 24 low-income units across various configurations. The neighborhood has seen LIHTC projects completed over a span of nearly a decade, with the most recent addition in 2006. The significant increase in median income and shifts in racial composition over the past decade may have influenced the recent lack of new LIHTC developments. The existing LIHTC units continue to play a role in providing affordable housing options within the neighborhood.
