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Affordable Housing in Northside, Cincinnati: A Longitudinal Analysis of LIHTC Developments
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Northside, a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The neighborhood's LIHTC inventory comprises 64 units, all designated as low-income. Based on the 2022 population of 8,299 and the national average household size of 2.61, the estimated housing inventory for Northside is approximately 3,180 units. The LIHTC-funded affordable housing units represent about 2% of the estimated housing stock in the neighborhood.
The LIHTC program has invested in Northside, with project tax credits totaling $953,017. This equates to an average federal funding of approximately $14,891 per unit. The neighborhood has maintained a commitment to affordable housing, with projects spanning from 1988 to 2016. The first LIHTC project, Haight, was completed in 1988, while the most recent addition, Knowlton Northside Senior, was finished in 2016. This 28-year span indicates a consistent effort to maintain and expand affordable housing options in the area.
The 1980s saw the most activity in LIHTC project completion, with two projects (Haight and Northside Partners) finished in 1988 and 1989 respectively. The 1990s and 2010s each saw one project completed. The available data shows a distribution of 26 one-bedroom units and 3 two-bedroom units among the LIHTC-funded projects in Northside. This suggests a focus on smaller household sizes in the affordable housing stock.
Over the past decade, Northside has experienced demographic shifts. The population has grown from 7,316 in 2014 to 8,299 in 2022, indicating an increasing demand for housing. Median income has risen from $37,866 in 2014 to $55,603 in 2022, which could affect the need for affordable housing.
Racial demographics have also shifted. The percentage of Black residents decreased from 34% in 2014 to 22% in 2022, while the percentage of White residents increased from 60% to 71% during the same period. This change in racial composition coincides with the rising median income, potentially indicating gentrification pressures in the neighborhood.
Despite these demographic changes, no new LIHTC projects have been completed since 2016. This could be due to various factors, including the rising median income potentially reducing the perceived need for additional affordable housing units, or challenges in securing funding for new projects.
Northside's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory, while modest in size, represents a long-term commitment to providing low-income housing options in the neighborhood. The 64 units, all designated as low-income, cover about 2% of the estimated housing stock. The neighborhood has seen LIHTC projects completed over a 28-year span, with the most recent addition in 2016.
Over the past decade, Northside has experienced population growth, significant increases in median income, and shifts in racial composition. These demographic changes may be influencing the landscape for affordable housing in the neighborhood. While the existing LIHTC units continue to provide affordable housing options, the lack of new projects since 2016 suggests a potential shift in housing dynamics or development priorities in the area.
