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Affordable Housing in West Park, Irvine: A Longitudinal Analysis of LIHTC Developments
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
West Park, a neighborhood in Irvine, California, contains 466 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded units, of which 235 are designated as low-income. Based on the 2022 population of 26,389 and the national average household size, the estimated total housing units in the neighborhood is 10,111. LIHTC funded affordable housing constitutes approximately 4.6% of the estimated housing inventory, with low-income units accounting for 2.3%.
The LIHTC program has invested $1,347,697 in tax credits in West Park, averaging $2,892 per unit across all LIHTC-funded projects. Affordable housing development in West Park began in the 1990s, with the first LIHTC project, San Paulo Apts, completed in 1993, followed by Santa Alicia in 1996. This decade saw the most significant affordable housing development activity in the neighborhood.
The LIHTC inventory in West Park offers a range of unit types, including 16 one-bedroom, 42 two-bedroom, 24 three-bedroom, and 2 four-bedroom units. This distribution indicates an effort to accommodate various household sizes, from individuals to larger families.
West Park's population increased from 24,444 in 2013 to 26,389 in 2022. The median income rose from $118,875 in 2013 to $123,245 in 2022, suggesting overall economic improvement in the neighborhood. Racial demographics remained relatively stable, with minor shifts. The Asian population decreased from 46% in 2013 to 43% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 10% to 12%. The White population remained constant at 34% over this period.
The rising median income may explain the absence of new LIHTC projects in the neighborhood since the 1990s. The increasing affluence of the area potentially reduced the perceived need for additional low-income housing. West Park's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory, though modest compared to the overall estimated housing stock, provides a significant resource for low-income residents. The existing projects, developed in the 1990s, offer various unit sizes to accommodate diverse household needs.
The neighborhood's population growth and increasing median income over the past decade, coupled with stable racial demographics, suggest a consistent community composition. The lack of recent LIHTC developments may indicate a shift in housing needs or priorities within the neighborhood, potentially influenced by the area's rising affluence.
