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Affordable Housing in Gettysburg: A Three-Decade Perspective on LIHTC Projects
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a borough with historical significance, maintains a modest Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The city currently has 42 affordable housing units, all categorized as low-income units. This inventory represents approximately 1.42% of the city's estimated 2,954 housing units, indicating that LIHTC funded projects constitute a small fraction of Gettysburg's overall housing market.
Gettysburg has received $354,884 in project tax credits for affordable housing through the LIHTC program. With two projects in the city, this equates to an average federal funding of $177,442 per project. The average federal funding per unit is approximately $8,450. Gettysburg accounts for 0.06% of the total state funding for LIHTC projects in Pennsylvania.
The initial LIHTC funded project in Gettysburg, "Gettysburg Scat Sites," was completed in 1993, while the most recent project, "Fahnestock House," was finished in 2013. This indicates that affordable housing has been present in the city for at least 30 years. The 1990s and 2010s each saw one affordable housing project completed, demonstrating a consistent but limited development of LIHTC funded housing over the decades.
Gettysburg's LIHTC funded affordable housing inventory consists of 42 units, including 1 efficiency, 27 one-bedroom units, 3 two-bedroom units, 9 three-bedroom units, and 2 four-bedroom units. This distribution indicates a focus on smaller households, with a significant number of units suitable for individuals or couples.
Analyzing demographic trends over the last decade, Gettysburg's population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 7,400 and 7,700 residents. The median income has shown some variability, with recent years indicating an upward trend. Racially, the city has maintained a predominantly white population, though there has been a slight increase in diversity, particularly in the Hispanic population, which grew from 7% in 2013 to 16% in 2022.
The completion of the Fahnestock House project in 2013 coincides with a period when the city's median income was lower compared to recent years. This may have addressed a need for affordable housing at that time. The subsequent increase in median income and relative stability in population might explain why no new LIHTC projects have been developed in recent years.
In summary, Gettysburg's LIHTC funded affordable housing inventory, while modest, has provided a consistent presence of low-income units over the past three decades. The city's demographic trends, including a stable population and recent increases in median income, may influence future needs for affordable housing development through the LIHTC program.
