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Affordable Housing in Squier Park: LIHTC's Impact on Neighborhood Dynamics
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Squier Park, a neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, exhibits a significant presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The neighborhood's LIHTC inventory comprises 89 total units, with 87 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 801 and using the national average household size of 2.61, the estimated housing units in the neighborhood are approximately 307. LIHTC funded affordable housing accounts for about 29% of the estimated housing inventory, indicating its substantial contribution to the neighborhood's affordable housing needs.
The LIHTC projects in Squier Park have received $295,529 in project tax credits. This translates to an average federal funding of approximately $3,321 per unit. The neighborhood has experienced LIHTC-funded affordable housing development over nearly three decades, from 1988 to 2016. The earliest project, "1305 E Armour Blvd," was completed in 1988, while the most recent, "Faxon School Apartments," was finished in 2016. The 1980s and 1990s saw initial affordable housing development, with the 2010s bringing additional units to the neighborhood.
The LIHTC-funded housing in Squier Park offers a mix of unit types, predominantly consisting of one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. There are 62 one-bedroom units and 11 two-bedroom units. The Faxon School Apartments project, completed in 2016, is designed to serve residents with disabilities, indicating a focus on accessible housing for this specific population.
Squier Park has experienced demographic shifts over the last decade. The population has fluctuated, reaching a peak of 948 in 2019 before declining to 801 in 2022. Median income has shown considerable variation, with significant drops in 2020 and 2022, potentially indicating increased need for affordable housing options.
Racial demographics have also changed. The Black population percentage decreased from 60% in 2017 to 47% in 2022, while the White population increased from 33% to 43% over the same period. The Hispanic population has remained relatively stable, ranging between 2-7% throughout the decade. The completion of the Faxon School Apartments in 2016 aligns with a period of population growth and fluctuating median incomes, suggesting a response to changing housing needs in the neighborhood.
Squier Park's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory plays a substantial role in the neighborhood's housing landscape, covering nearly 30% of the estimated housing units. The neighborhood has seen consistent development of affordable housing over three decades, with a mix of unit types and a recent focus on accessible housing for residents with disabilities. Demographic shifts, including population fluctuations and changes in racial composition, have occurred alongside these developments, potentially influencing and being influenced by the affordable housing landscape. The significant presence of LIHTC-funded units suggests a concerted effort to address affordable housing needs in Squier Park, though the full picture of affordable housing in the area may include contributions from other programs not captured in this analysis.
