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Affordable Housing in Strawberry Hill: Two Decades of LIHTC Investment
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Strawberry Hill, a neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas, has a specific affordable housing landscape influenced by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The neighborhood contains 73 units in LIHTC-funded projects, with 32 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 8,705 and an estimated 3,335 housing units, LIHTC-funded affordable housing represents approximately 2.19% of the neighborhood's estimated housing inventory.
The LIHTC program has invested $750,485 in tax credits for affordable housing projects in Strawberry Hill. This equates to an average federal funding of $10,281 per unit across all LIHTC-funded projects in the neighborhood. Affordable housing has been present in Strawberry Hill for at least two decades. The first LIHTC project, Turtle Hill Townhomes, was completed in 2002, followed by Historic City Hall Lofts in 2005. These projects indicate that the 2000s were the decade with the most affordable housing development in the neighborhood.
The LIHTC-funded projects in Strawberry Hill offer various housing options. Turtle Hill Townhomes provides 31 units, including 3 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom units, suitable for families. Historic City Hall Lofts adds 42 units to the neighborhood's affordable housing stock.
Strawberry Hill has experienced demographic changes over the past decade. The population decreased slightly from 9,068 in 2015 to 8,705 in 2022. Despite this decline, the median income increased from $27,962 in 2015 to $35,986 in 2022.
Racial demographics have remained relatively stable, with minor shifts. The Hispanic population has consistently been the largest group, averaging around 43-44% of the population. The Black population increased slightly from 23% in 2015 to 29% in 2022, while the White population decreased from 23% to 19% over the same period. These demographic changes, particularly the rising median income, may indicate evolving housing needs in the neighborhood. However, the persistent presence of diverse, lower-income populations suggests an ongoing need for affordable housing options.
Strawberry Hill's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory, while modest in size, contributes to addressing the neighborhood's housing needs. The two LIHTC projects, completed in the early 2000s, provide a mix of unit types that can accommodate different household sizes. While the percentage of LIHTC units relative to the estimated housing inventory is low, other affordable housing programs may also be present in the neighborhood.
The demographic trends over the past decade, including a slight population decrease and increasing median income, coupled with stable racial diversity, suggest a complex and evolving housing landscape in Strawberry Hill. These factors may influence future affordable housing needs and development in the neighborhood.
