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Affordable Housing in Pittsburgh's Southside Flats: LIHTC Contributions 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
Southside Flats, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, contains a significant Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The area has 271 total units in LIHTC funded projects, with 211 designated as low-income units. This affordable housing stock is crucial in meeting the community's housing needs.
Based on the 2022 population of 7,043 and using the national average household size, the estimated housing inventory for Southside Flats is approximately 2,698 units. The 271 LIHTC funded units represent about 10% of this estimated housing stock, indicating a substantial contribution to the neighborhood's affordable housing supply.
The LIHTC program has invested significantly in Southside Flats, with project tax credits totaling $2,404,955. This translates to an average federal funding of about $8,874 per unit in LIHTC funded projects, demonstrating a substantial financial commitment to affordable housing in the area.
Affordable housing has been a long-standing feature of Southside Flats, with the earliest LIHTC project, 2612 Sarah St, completed in 1988. The most recent project, Carson Towers Apts, was finished in 2019, indicating over three decades of continuous affordable housing development in the neighborhood.
The 2010s saw the most activity in affordable housing development, with notable projects like the Century Building (2009), Brew House Artist Housing (2016), and Carson Towers Apts (2019) being completed during this decade.
The LIHTC funded housing stock in Southside Flats primarily consists of smaller units. Out of the 271 total units, there are 12 efficiencies, 239 one-bedroom units, and 20 two-bedroom units. This distribution suggests a focus on housing for individuals or small families.
Over the past decade, Southside Flats has experienced demographic shifts. The population has fluctuated, with a notable increase from 6,595 in 2019 to 7,408 in 2020, before settling at 7,043 in 2022. Median income has shown an overall upward trend, rising from $48,910 in 2013 to $55,984 in 2022, with some year-to-year variations.
Racial demographics have also evolved. While the neighborhood remains predominantly white, there has been a gradual increase in diversity. The percentage of white residents decreased from 91% in 2013 to 82% in 2022, with corresponding increases in Black and multiracial populations. The Black population, in particular, grew from 1% in 2013 to 12% in 2022.
These demographic changes, particularly the increasing diversity and fluctuating income levels, may have influenced the continued development of LIHTC projects in the area, including the most recent Carson Towers Apts in 2019.
Southside Flats demonstrates a significant commitment to affordable housing through its LIHTC funded projects. With 271 total units, representing about 10% of the estimated housing stock, these projects play a vital role in the neighborhood's housing landscape. The area has seen continuous development of affordable housing over three decades, with the most activity occurring in the 2010s. The housing stock primarily consists of smaller units, suggesting a focus on individuals and small families. Recent demographic shifts, including increasing diversity and fluctuating income levels, align with the ongoing development of affordable housing in the neighborhood.
