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Affordable Housing in Wichita's Sunflower Neighborhood: A Three-Decade LIHTC Project
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 Sunflower neighborhood in Wichita, Kansas, contains 168 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing units. These units, all designated as low-income, constitute approximately 6.7% of the estimated 2,503 housing units in the neighborhood, based on the 2022 population of 6,534 and the national average household size of 2.61. This proportion indicates a significant contribution to affordable housing in the area.
The LIHTC program has invested $268,024 in tax credits for affordable housing projects in the Sunflower neighborhood, averaging about $1,595 per unit in federal funding. The neighborhood's sole LIHTC project, Mt Carmel Village, was completed in 1991 and has provided affordable housing for over three decades. The development offers 84 one-bedroom and 84 two-bedroom units, accommodating various household sizes and needs.
The Sunflower neighborhood has experienced demographic changes over the past decade. The population increased from 6,205 residents in 2019 to 6,534 in 2022. Median income rose from $38,520 in 2019 to $40,715 in 2022, indicating a modest improvement in economic conditions. Racial demographics have also shifted, with the white population decreasing slightly from 67% to 65%, the Hispanic population remaining stable at 20%, and the Asian population increasing from 2% to 6% between 2019 and 2022.
Despite these demographic changes, no new LIHTC projects have been developed in the Sunflower neighborhood in the last decade. This could be attributed to various factors, including the existing affordable housing stock meeting current needs or changes in funding priorities.
The Sunflower neighborhood's affordable housing landscape is characterized by a single, long-standing LIHTC project that has provided 168 low-income units since 1991. While this represents a significant contribution to the area's affordable housing stock, it covers only a portion of the estimated housing needs. The neighborhood has experienced moderate demographic changes in recent years, including slight increases in population, median income, and racial diversity. These trends, combined with the stable presence of LIHTC-funded housing, indicate a neighborhood with an established affordable housing foundation that may require ongoing assessment to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of its residents.
