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Affordable Housing in Swope Parkway - Elmwood: A Decade of LIHTC Development
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 Swope Parkway - Elmwood neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, has a significant presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The neighborhood has 179 total units in LIHTC funded projects, with 177 of these designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 2,707 and using the national average household size, approximately 1,037 housing units are estimated in the neighborhood. The LIHTC funded affordable housing covers about 17.3% of the estimated housing inventory, aligning with the target percentage for a well-balanced community.
The neighborhood has seen LIHTC funded affordable housing development spanning nearly a decade, from 1987 to 1996. The earliest projects, "4223 E 60Th Ter" and "4271 E 61St St," were completed in 1987, while the most recent project, "5930 Cypress Pl," was finished in 1996. This indicates a sustained effort to provide affordable housing in the area over time.
The 1990s saw the most significant affordable housing development activity. In 1991, seven projects were completed, including "3848 E 59Th Ter," "3857 E 60Th St," and "5726 Norton Ave." This decade of development has contributed substantially to the current affordable housing stock in the neighborhood.
The LIHTC funded projects in Swope Parkway - Elmwood offer a mix of unit types, with a predominance of larger units. The breakdown includes 1 one-bedroom unit, 44 two-bedroom units, 109 three-bedroom units, and 16 four-bedroom units. This distribution suggests a focus on accommodating families and larger households within the affordable housing inventory.
Over the past decade, the neighborhood's population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between about 2,300 and 2,700 residents. The median income has shown significant volatility, with an increase from $22,886 in 2019 to $41,665 in 2022. This recent upward trend in median income could potentially impact the demand for affordable housing in the future.
The racial composition of the neighborhood has remained predominantly Black, with percentages consistently above 80% throughout the past decade. There has been an increase in Hispanic population, from 2% in 2019 to 11% in 2022, indicating growing diversity in the area.
The Swope Parkway - Elmwood neighborhood has a substantial LIHTC funded affordable housing inventory, covering approximately 17.3% of the estimated housing units. This aligns with recommended targets for affordable housing in a balanced community. The development of these units occurred primarily in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a focus on larger units suitable for families. While the population has remained relatively stable, recent increases in median income and shifts in racial composition may influence future affordable housing needs in the neighborhood. The existing LIHTC funded projects continue to play a crucial role in providing housing options for lower-income residents in this Kansas City community.
