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Affordable Housing in Mill Creek: LIHTC Impact on Neighborhood Dynamics
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Mill Creek, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, contains a significant amount of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The neighborhood's LIHTC inventory comprises 248 total units, with 211 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 9,527 and using the national average household size, the estimated number of housing units in Mill Creek is approximately 3,650. LIHTC funded affordable housing accounts for about 6.8% of the estimated housing inventory in the neighborhood.
The LIHTC program has made substantial investments in Mill Creek, with project tax credits totaling $4,679,057. This equates to an average federal funding of approximately $18,867 per unit in LIHTC-funded projects. Affordable housing development in the neighborhood has been consistent over two decades, with the first LIHTC project, "5162 Funston St Apts," completed in 1987, and the most recent, "Angela Court Ii," in 2008.
The 1990s and 2000s were particularly active periods for affordable housing development in Mill Creek. Notable projects during this time include "Jameson Court" (1997), "Help Philadelphia I" and "Help Philadelphia II" (both in 1999), and "Mill Creek" (2005). The housing stock primarily consists of one-bedroom units (134), followed by three-bedrooms (58), two-bedrooms (40), and four-bedrooms (16).
Mill Creek has experienced some demographic changes over the past decade. The population increased from 9,310 in 2014 to 9,527 in 2022, a modest growth of about 2.3%. Median income has fluctuated, rising from $23,123 in 2014 to $24,029 in 2022, with notable variations in between.
The racial composition of Mill Creek has remained predominantly African American, though with some changes. The percentage of Black residents decreased slightly from 92% in 2014 to 85% in 2022. During this period, there was a small increase in racial diversity, with slight growth in Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial populations.
No new LIHTC projects have been recorded in Mill Creek since 2008. This could be attributed to various factors, including changes in funding priorities, zoning regulations, or shifts in neighborhood needs.
Mill Creek's affordable housing landscape is characterized by a substantial LIHTC presence, covering about 6.8% of the estimated housing inventory. The neighborhood experienced consistent affordable housing development from the late 1980s through the 2000s, with a focus on one-bedroom units. While the population has grown slightly over the past decade, the racial composition has remained predominantly African American, with small increases in diversity. The absence of new LIHTC projects since 2008 suggests a potential shift in affordable housing strategies or needs in the area. This analysis provides an overview of Mill Creek's affordable housing situation, although other programs may also contribute to the neighborhood's overall affordable housing inventory.
