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Decatur's Affordable Housing: LIHTC Impact on Civic 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
Decatur, Alabama, has a diverse affordable housing inventory supported by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The city has 507 total units in LIHTC-funded projects, all of which are designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 67,175 and an estimated 25,738 housing units, the LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises approximately 2% of the city's estimated housing inventory.
Decatur has received $2,860,861 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program. With approximately 8 projects, this translates to an average of $357,608 in federal funding per project, or $5,643 per unit. The city holds 1.61% of the total state LIHTC funding, indicating a significant contribution to Alabama's affordable housing efforts.
The first LIHTC project in Decatur was completed in 1995, with the most recent project finished in 2010, demonstrating a 15-year span of affordable housing development. The 1990s saw the most affordable housing activity, with five projects completed during this decade: Harbor Square Apts, River Valley, Summer Place I, Summer Place II, and Wesley Glen.
The LIHTC-funded housing stock in Decatur consists of 129 one-bedroom units, 242 two-bedroom units, and 64 three-bedroom units. This distribution suggests a focus on accommodating small to medium-sized families and individuals.
Over the past decade, Decatur's population has shown modest growth, increasing from 64,389 in 2013 to 67,175 in 2022. The median income has risen from $49,597 in 2013 to $56,525 in 2022, indicating improving economic conditions. The racial composition has remained relatively stable, with a slight increase in the Hispanic population from 11% to 14% and a minor decrease in the white population from 63% to 61%.
Despite these demographic changes, no new LIHTC projects have been completed in Decatur since 2010. This could be due to various factors, including changes in local housing needs, shifts in funding priorities, or the availability of alternative affordable housing programs.
Decatur's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory represents a small but important portion of the city's housing stock. The program has provided over $2.8 million in tax credits, supporting 507 low-income units across approximately 8 projects. While the city experienced significant affordable housing development in the 1990s and early 2000s, there has been a pause in LIHTC project completions since 2010. The city's demographic trends show modest population growth and increasing median income, which may influence future affordable housing needs and development strategies.
