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Affordable Housing in Old Allentown Historic District: 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
The Old Allentown Historic District in Pennsylvania exhibits a specific affordable housing profile influenced by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. This neighborhood contains 18 LIHTC-funded affordable housing units, all categorized as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 5,379 and the national average household size of 2.61, the estimated number of housing units in the neighborhood is approximately 2,061. The LIHTC-funded affordable housing constitutes about 0.87% of the estimated housing inventory, indicating a limited contribution to the neighborhood's affordable housing supply.
The LIHTC program has allocated $85,035 in tax credits for affordable housing projects in the Old Allentown Historic District. This equates to an average federal funding of approximately $4,724 per unit. The neighborhood experienced a concentrated period of affordable housing development, with the initial LIHTC project completed in 1988 and the most recent in 1991. This suggests a three-year span of active affordable housing development in the area.
The 1980s marked the inception of LIHTC-funded affordable housing in the neighborhood, with three projects completed during this decade: 833 W Pine St and 327 N Lumber St in 1988, followed by North Hall St in 1989. The early 1990s saw the addition of two more projects: Turner St Apts in 1990 and Pine Street Assoc in 1991. The LIHTC-funded projects in the Old Allentown Historic District offer a range of housing options. The inventory comprises 4 one-bedroom units, 9 two-bedroom units, 3 three-bedroom units, and 2 four-bedroom units. This distribution indicates an effort to accommodate various household sizes and needs within the affordable housing stock.
The Old Allentown Historic District has undergone demographic changes over the past decade. The population has fluctuated, showing a general downward trend from 5,790 in 2014 to 5,379 in 2022. However, the median income has increased significantly, rising from $30,408 in 2014 to $37,018 in 2022, with a peak of $43,420 in 2021.
Racial demographics have also evolved. The Hispanic population has become more prominent, increasing from 62% in 2014 to 71% in 2022. Conversely, the White population has decreased from 18% to 14%, and the Black population has slightly declined from 17% to 14% during the same period. These demographic shifts, particularly the rising median income, may partially explain the absence of new LIHTC projects in the neighborhood since 1991. The increasing income levels might suggest a reduced need for additional affordable housing units in recent years.
The Old Allentown Historic District's affordable housing landscape is characterized by a modest LIHTC-funded inventory, representing less than 1% of the estimated housing stock. The neighborhood experienced a concentrated period of affordable housing development from 1988 to 1991, resulting in 18 low-income units across five projects. While the LIHTC program has not funded new projects in recent decades, the existing units continue to contribute to the area's affordable housing needs. The demographic trends, including rising median income and shifts in racial composition, provide context for understanding the evolving housing needs of the neighborhood.
