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Affordable Housing in North Hilltop: LIHTC Impact on Columbus 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
North Hilltop, a neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, has a presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The area has 65 total affordable units, all designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 4,996 and using the national average household size of 2.61, the estimated housing inventory for the neighborhood is approximately 1,914 units. The LIHTC funded affordable housing covers about 3.4% of this estimated housing inventory.
The LIHTC program has invested in North Hilltop, with project tax credits totaling $996,765. This translates to an average federal funding of approximately $15,335 per unit. The neighborhood has seen LIHTC funded affordable housing projects spanning nearly three decades, with the first project, Vera Thornhill Housing, completed in 1994, and the most recent, Wheatland Crossing II - Intergenerational Housing, finished in 2020.
The 2020s marked a period for affordable housing development in North Hilltop, with the completion of Wheatland Crossing II. This project added 64 units to the neighborhood's affordable housing inventory, including 15 one-bedroom, 41 two-bedroom, and 8 three-bedroom units. The variety in unit sizes suggests an effort to accommodate diverse household compositions within the low-income community.
Over the past decade, North Hilltop has experienced demographic shifts. The population has fluctuated, with an increase from 4,464 in 2015 to 5,775 in 2020, followed by a decline to 4,996 in 2022. Median income has shown an overall upward trend, rising from $33,892 in 2015 to $39,125 in 2022, despite some fluctuations.
The racial composition of the neighborhood has evolved. The white population has decreased from 76% in 2015 to 70% in 2022, while the Black population has decreased from 13% to 8% over the same period. There has been an increase in residents identifying as two or more races, from 5% in 2015 to 12% in 2022, and a slight increase in the Hispanic population from 1% to 6%.
The completion of Wheatland Crossing II in 2020 coincides with a period of population growth and increasing diversity in the neighborhood, suggesting a response to changing demographics and housing needs.
North Hilltop's LIHTC funded affordable housing inventory, while modest in relation to the estimated total housing stock, represents an investment in addressing low-income housing needs. The neighborhood has seen a long-term commitment to affordable housing development, with projects spanning from 1994 to 2020. The most recent and largest project, Wheatland Crossing II, has increased the affordable housing options in the area. These developments have occurred against a backdrop of demographic changes, including population fluctuations, income growth, and increasing racial diversity. The LIHTC program continues to play a role in supporting affordable housing options in this Columbus neighborhood.
