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Affordable Housing in West Ward, Easton: A Decade of Stagnation Amid 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
The West Ward neighborhood in Easton, Pennsylvania, has a limited Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. As of 2022, the neighborhood had a population of 17,284 residents. The LIHTC program has funded a total of 10 affordable housing units in this area, all of which are designated as low-income units. Based on the estimated housing inventory of 6,622 units, the LIHTC-funded affordable housing covers approximately 0.15% of the neighborhood's housing stock.
The LIHTC program has invested $93,004 in tax credits for affordable housing projects in the West Ward neighborhood. This translates to an average federal funding of $9,300 per unit. The neighborhood has seen LIHTC-funded affordable housing presence for over three decades, with the first project, Ferry Street Apts, completed in 1990, and the most recent project, Butler Street Apts, finished in 1996.
The 1990s saw the most activity in LIHTC-funded affordable housing development in the West Ward neighborhood. Both Ferry Street Apts and Butler Street Apts were completed during this decade, providing a total of 10 affordable housing units to the community. All 10 LIHTC-funded units in the neighborhood are two-bedroom apartments, suggesting a focus on accommodating small families or couples. The Ferry Street Apts project contributes one unit, while the Butler Street Apts project provides the remaining nine units.
Over the past decade, the West Ward neighborhood has experienced demographic shifts. The population has remained relatively stable, with a slight increase from 16,393 in 2015 to 17,284 in 2022. Median income has shown an upward trend, rising from $39,756 in 2015 to $55,864 in 2022, which may indicate improving economic conditions for some residents.
Racial demographics have also shifted. The white population decreased from 58% in 2015 to 52% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 25% to 29% during the same period. The Black population remained relatively stable, moving from 11% to 10%.
Despite these demographic changes, no new LIHTC projects have been developed in the neighborhood since 1996. This could be due to various factors, including changes in local housing policies, availability of suitable development sites, or shifts in funding priorities.
The West Ward neighborhood in Easton has a small LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory, consisting of 10 two-bedroom units across two projects completed in the 1990s. This represents a small fraction of the estimated housing stock. The neighborhood has experienced moderate demographic changes over the past decade, including a slight population increase, rising median incomes, and shifts in racial composition. Despite these changes, no new LIHTC projects have been developed since 1996, suggesting that other factors may be influencing affordable housing development in the area.
