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Affordable Housing in Manchester: A Two-Decade LIHTC Legacy
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Manchester, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has a distinct affordable housing profile shaped by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The program has funded 45 total units in the area, with 27 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 2,158 and the national average household size of 2.61, the estimated number of housing units in Manchester is approximately 827. LIHTC-funded affordable housing represents about 5.4% of the estimated housing inventory in the neighborhood.
The LIHTC program has invested $611,610 in tax credits for affordable housing projects in Manchester. This investment translates to an average federal funding of approximately $13,591 per unit across all LIHTC-funded projects in the area. The earliest recorded LIHTC projects in Manchester were completed in 1999, indicating that affordable housing has been part of the neighborhood's landscape for over two decades. Two notable projects from this period are Manchester Hope and Manchester Hope Phase II, both completed in 1999.
The 1990s saw the most significant affordable housing activity in Manchester, with multiple projects completed during this decade. This period was instrumental in establishing the foundation of affordable housing in the neighborhood. The unit distribution in LIHTC-funded projects includes 12 two-bedroom units, 22 three-bedroom units, and 11 four-bedroom units. This distribution suggests a priority on accommodating families in the affordable housing stock.
Over the past decade, Manchester's population has shown a general trend towards growth. The population increased from 1,889 in 2013 to 2,158 in 2022, representing a 14.2% growth. During this period, the median income has also seen an overall increase, rising from $35,408 in 2013 to $43,381 in 2022, a 22.5% increase.
The racial composition of Manchester has undergone changes in recent years. The Black population has decreased from 69% in 2013 to 57% in 2022, while the White population has increased from 25% to 35% during the same period. The neighborhood has also seen a slight increase in racial diversity, with the percentage of residents identifying as two or more races growing from 1% to 7% between 2013 and 2022.
Despite these demographic shifts, there has not been significant new LIHTC development in the last decade. This could be attributed to various factors, including changes in funding priorities, land availability, or shifts in housing needs.
Manchester's affordable housing landscape is characterized by LIHTC-funded projects that were primarily developed in the late 1990s. These projects provide a mix of unit sizes, with a focus on larger family-oriented apartments. While the LIHTC-funded units represent a modest portion of the estimated housing inventory, they play a crucial role in providing affordable options in the neighborhood. Over the past decade, Manchester has experienced population growth, income increases, and shifts in racial composition. However, these changes have not been accompanied by new LIHTC developments, suggesting that other factors may be influencing affordable housing development in the area.
