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Affordable Housing in Mussertown: LIHTC Impact and Demographic Shifts
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Mussertown, a neighborhood in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, exhibits a distinct affordable housing landscape influenced by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The neighborhood's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory comprises 30 total units, with 3 units specifically designated as low-income. Given the estimated 1,347 housing units in the neighborhood, LIHTC-funded affordable housing represents approximately 2.2% of the neighborhood's housing inventory.
The LIHTC program has allocated $257,526 in tax credits for affordable housing projects in Mussertown. This equates to an average federal funding of $8,584 per unit when distributed across the total 30 units in LIHTC-funded projects. The General Cigar Apts, completed in 2001, is the sole LIHTC project in the neighborhood, marking over two decades of affordable housing presence in Mussertown.
The General Cigar Apts project offers a range of unit types to accommodate various household sizes. The unit distribution includes 9 one-bedroom, 18 two-bedroom, and 3 three-bedroom apartments. This configuration indicates a focus on housing small to medium-sized families within the affordable housing framework.
Mussertown has experienced notable demographic changes over the past decade. The population has remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 3,421 in 2018 to 3,516 in 2022. Median income has shown significant growth, rising from $27,149 in 2018 to $30,520 in 2022, suggesting improving economic conditions for residents.
Racial demographics in the neighborhood have also evolved. The Hispanic population has increased from 65% in 2018 to 67% in 2022, while the Black population decreased from 23% to 16% during the same period. The White population experienced a slight increase from 10% to 15%. These changes indicate a gradually shifting racial composition in the neighborhood.
Despite these demographic changes, no new LIHTC projects have been implemented in the last decade. This may be attributed to the existing project adequately serving the community's needs or other affordable housing initiatives meeting demand outside of the LIHTC program.
Mussertown's affordable housing landscape is characterized by a single LIHTC project, the General Cigar Apts, which has served the community since 2001. While the project provides a modest contribution to the neighborhood's overall housing stock, it offers a mix of unit sizes to accommodate diverse household needs. The neighborhood has experienced demographic changes in recent years, including income growth and shifts in racial composition. These trends, combined with the lack of new LIHTC developments, suggest a complex interplay between housing needs, economic factors, and existing affordable housing resources in Mussertown.
