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Arlington's Affordable Housing: LIHTC's Impact on a Changing Baltimore Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Arlington, a neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, had a population of 1,621 in 2022. The area features a significant presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing, totaling 336 units, all designated as low-income. These units represent approximately 54% of the neighborhood's estimated 621 housing units, indicating a substantial contribution to local affordable housing.
The LIHTC program has invested $1,065,953 in tax credits for affordable housing projects in Arlington. This equates to an average federal funding of $3,172 per unit across the 336 total units in LIHTC funded projects. Arlington has benefited from LIHTC funded affordable housing for over two decades, with the first project completed in 1998 and the most recent in 2016.
The 2010s saw a significant addition to Arlington's affordable housing inventory with the completion of Bel Park Tower in 2016, which added 253 low-income units. The LIHTC funded projects in Arlington provide a mix of unit types, with Bel Park Tower offering 119 one-bedroom units. Park Heights Elderly, the other project, contributes 83 units to the neighborhood's affordable housing stock.
Over the past decade, Arlington experienced a population decline from 2,503 residents in 2013 to 1,621 in 2022. Despite this decrease, the median income increased from $28,140 in 2013 to $40,353 in 2022, suggesting a changing economic landscape. The racial composition remained relatively stable, with the Black population increasing from 83% in 2013 to 90% in 2022. The completion of Bel Park Tower in 2016 aligns with a period of relative population stability in the mid-2010s.
Arlington's affordable housing landscape is significantly shaped by LIHTC funded projects, covering over half of the estimated housing inventory. The neighborhood has seen substantial investment in affordable housing, particularly with the addition of Bel Park Tower in 2016. Despite a declining population over the past decade, the median income has increased, and the racial composition has remained stable. The LIHTC program has played a crucial role in maintaining affordable housing options in Arlington, potentially helping to stabilize the neighborhood's population during a period of demographic change.
